ATASCOCITA, Texas – Two teens were arrested in connection to a home invasion, vehicle thefts and aggravated robbery overnight Monday, according to deputies with Constable Mark Herman’s Office. A third suspect is on the run.
During their crime spree, a man they robbed in his car, grabbed the barrel of the gun they pointed right at his head and tried to talk them down.
Home invasion
Deputies were alerted around 4 a.m. about an aggravated robbery in the 16300 block of Tulipan Spring Trail. They learned that three suspects arrived at a couple’s home in a white Dodge Ran 1500, armed with rifles.
The armed suspects fired into the home’s back glass window and made their way inside. They also shot inside their refrigerator. The group held the husband and wife and their three children at gunpoint and robbed the victims.
No injuries were reported and the suspects fled the home in the Dodge Ram, along with the victim’s white Jeep Cherokee.
KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel obtained Ring Doorbell video from a neighbor where a person with long hair and a rifle ripped the camera off their front doorway Monday morning. The neighbor said he did not make it inside because his dogs likely scared the gunman away.
Aggravated robbery
Sometime after the home invasion, the same suspects reportedly robbed a man at gunpoint while he was in his vehicle in the driveway of his home. Officials said they assaulted him and stole his wallet before they fled.
Victor Rojas told Corley the same guy pointed a gun in his face while he was in his vehicle in his driveway off Fuchsia Lane Monday morning. Rojas said he was about to head to work when the wanted group stopped him.
“I started looking down the window and when I lowered it down, that’s when he pointed this, this assault rifle in my face. It’s really either fight or flight. I really felt like I had no choice but other than to fight and try to protect myself. My reaction was to grab the barrel of the gun and pointed away from me and then pulling it into the truck. And so, while I’m holding on to the gun, just to kind of keep it away from me, he starts hitting me in the face. And then there’s another individual that’s on the, the driver’s side,” said Rojas.
Rojas said the armed person, told them the group’s only option was to rob him.
“He’s like, ‘Hey, you know what? We just want the money. We don’t want any trouble. Just give us the cash.’ And I told him, ‘I’m not giving you my truck, you know, you know, I can give you cash.’ You know, that’s what I wanted. He’s like, ‘You know what? We need the money and this is what we’re having to do to get the money,’” Rojas said.
He said the guys took off with his two phones and cash.
Suspects detained
A few hours later, constable deputies said they found the crashed Jeep of the family who’d been tied up, in the 5300 block of Flaxburton Drive. They also located the suspects’ getaway vehicle and found a gun inside.
Two of the suspects, ages 13 and 18, were found near a home and arrested.
Suspects tied to car break-ins
Detectives said the young group began their crime spree overnight by breaking into several cars. Constable Precinct 4 shared a surveillance photo from where they are accused of cutting car seats with a knife in the Atasca Woods Subdivision.
The constables also released a video showing the long-haired man breaking into a truck in a driveway.
Rojas said he hopes the remaining wanted person is caught soon.
“I know it’s just a matter of time where, you know, the law is going to catch up to him,” said Rojas.
Anyone with information is being asked to call Constable Mark Herman’s Office.