A quick thinking former Marine stopped an armed robber in his tracks at a gas station in Yuma on Wednesday.
According to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, on October 20, 2021, at approximately 4:30 a.m., deputies responded to an armed robbery report at the Chevron located at 10747 E. North Frontage Road.
Deputies learned that three suspects entered the Chevron, with one of them armed with a handgun. The armed suspect walked next to the former Marine while pointing the weapon toward the cashier when the veteran acted immediately and disarmed him. The other two suspects fled the area when they witnessed their fellow criminal stopped.
The veteran was able to detain the suspect he disarmed until law enforcement arrived.
The suspect detained during the incident was a juvenile and was booked into the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center for one count of armed robbery and one count of aggravated assault. The other two suspects are still currently outstanding.
No injuries reported from any of the victims. This case remains under investigation.
When Deputies contacted the customer, who previously served in the United States Marine Corps, and asked how he was able to take control of the situation, he stated, “The Marine Corps taught me not to [mess] around.”
Anyone with information regarding this case, contact the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office at 928-783-4427 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous. You can also visit www.yumacountysheriff.org to submit an anonymous tip.