Plainview Police on Wednesday said two suspects were arrested for an armed robbery of the Happy Stop convenience store.
There had been previous robberies where the suspect descriptions were similar.
Of one such case, police said, “Witnesses shockingly described the robbery suspect as being a very young boy.”
It turns out, one of the suspects was 13 years old, according to Plainview Police. The other was identified as Jose Gregorio Mata, 17. But police said one more young person was later identified as an 11-year-old suspect.
“As a result of today’s arrests, we are happy to say that one additional arrest of an eleven year old suspect will be made,” police said.
Police were called to the store on Tuesday afternoon. An officer saw “a male subject carrying a gun” as he exited the store. Mata and the 13-year-old were found and arrested within a short time.
The following is a press release from the Plainview Police Department:
On 05/08/2018 at approximately 2:41 pm a Plainview Police Officer was patrolling on the 500 block of Joliet when confronted by two females, who were frantically trying to get his attention. The females told the officer that they believed the Happy Stop Convenience Store, located at 1014 W 5th, was being robbed by two individuals.
Upon approaching the store our officer observed a male subject carrying a gun as he exited the store. Our Officer attempted to apprehend the suspect but he fled to the back of the store. The suspect met up with another suspect, who was waiting for him behind the store. Both suspects fled on foot towards the 1100 BLK of West 6th street, but were quickly apprehended by other responding officers.
The suspects, a Hispanic male, thirteen years of age and a seventeen year old, Jose Gregorio Mata, were taken into custody. The juvenile was turned over to the Juvenile Probation Department and the adult male was transported to the Hale County Sheriff’s Department, where they are both being charged with Aggravated Robbery and Evading Detention.
This was the third Aggravated Robbery of a convenience store this year involving young teenage male suspects. As a result of today’s arrests we are happy to say that one additional arrest of an eleven year old suspect will be made.
On February 28, 2018 at about 9 PM the Allsup’s Convenience Store, located at 608 S Broadway was robbed by a young Hispanic male wearing a red ski mask. Witnesses identified him as a very young boy, possibly in his early teens.
On March 12, 2018 at about 2 PM the Allsup’s Convenience Store located at 608 S Broadway was robbed in broad day light amongst several witnesses being present. Witnesses shockingly described the robbery suspect as being a very young boy. Witnesses followed the suspect as he ran from the store. Witnesses observed the suspect meeting up with two other young boys and fled into the nearby residential area.
The Plainview Police Department would like to thank the citizens who alerted our officer about the robbery. Because of your vigilance and swift actions we may have not been able to apprehend these suspects.
Related Link: Plainview Hale County Crime Stoppers
