Police have arrested the man suspected of an armed robbery Tuesday morning at a Las Cruces Walmart store.
Brandon Armando Herrera-Lozoya, 19, was arrested by New Mexico State Police Tuesday evening in Anthony, N.M. Herrera-Lozoya is charged with one count each of armed robbery, tampering with evidence and possession of a controlled substance.
At around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, Las Cruces Police were called to the Walmart store at 571 Walton Blvd. where officers learned that a man suspected of walking out of the store without paying for car audio speakers and an air compressor was approached in the parking lot by a Walmart loss prevention officer.
As the employee was on the phone with a 911 operator, the suspect pulled out a gun and threatened the loss prevention officer. The suspect stole the employee’s cell phone and then fled the parking lot in a white minivan. No injuries were reported.
A Las Cruces Police Department detective learned that the minivan belonged to a woman who resides in Anthony, N.M., and was dating Herrera-Lozoya. Further investigation revealed that a previous arrest booking photo of Herrera-Lozoya positively matched surveillance photos taken of the Walmart robbery suspect.
Las Cruces Police asked New Mexico State Police for assistance in locating the suspect who was found Tuesday evening driving the Ford Aerostar minivan. The weapon Herrera-Lozoya is believed to have used during the armed robbery may have been an airsoft rifle that strongly resembles an assault rifle, although police have yet to locate it.
Herrera-Lozoya was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $25,000.