KYLE — Between Tuesday, Dec. 26 and Wednesday, Feb. 14, the Kyle Police Department, Buda Police Department and the Hays County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged five individuals in connection to robberies at various convenience stores in the area.
The first incident occurred at 11:38 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26 at the 7-11 on the I-35 Northbound Frontage Road near FM 150 when the subject entered the store, pulled what appeared to be a handgun and demanded money from the register. Following an investigation, authorities issued a warrant and arrested 17-year-old John Paul Martinez. The firearm in this case was later recovered in a stolen vehicle by the San Marcos Police Department and was determined to be an airsoft gun.
Martinez is being held in the Hays County Jail. He faces aggravated robbery, unauthorized use of a vehicle and four theft of property charges.
Additional charges have been levied against 18-year-old Rudy Romero, who is connected to three robberies in Kyle made between Jan. 25 and Feb. 3, and an additional incident on Monday, Feb. 5 at the Poco Loco on Windy Hill Road in Buda.
The Buda Police Department identified the two other suspects involved in the incident as 22-year-old Brandon Anthony Vasquez and 23-year-old Martin Garcia Jr. They face robbery and engaging in organized criminal activity charges.
The most recent robbery occurred at 1:26 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14 when Kyle Police received a call about an armed robbery that had just occurred at the Minute Fuel on Amberwood North and the Northbound I-35 Frontage Road. Witnesses reported that a male subject came into the store, displayed a handgun and demanded money from the business and the personal cell phones of the employees. After being provided with these items, the subject fled from the store on foot.
Kyle Police Officers and Hays County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived and located the subject behind the nearby Home Depot at 1:51 p.m. After a brief altercation, 26-year-old Josh Julian Garza of Clovis, New Mexico, was safely apprehended. The firearm used in the robbery was located in the subject’s possession. The money and cell phones were recovered and returned to the victims.
Garza is charged with aggravated robbery, unlawful carrying of weapon and two counts of interference with emergency request for assistance and is being held at the Hays County Jail.
Police are asking anyone that may have any additional information on these incidents to please contact the Kyle Police Department at 512-268-3232 or, submit a tip anonymously to the Hays County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-324-TIPS (8477), online at callcrimestoppers.com, or by using the P3 Tips app on your smartphone.
