Authorities are on the hunt for a suspect behind a frightening mugging incident outside a west Phoenix grocery store. The Silent Witness program is now offering a reward to anyone who can provide information that will lead to the mugger's capture,
The crime occurred on March 10, just after 9 p.m., when a woman was ambushed after purchasing water at the Tres Amigos store located near 83rd Avenue and Indian School Road, as 12 News reported. The assailant, described as a Hispanic man around 20 years old, weighing approximately 180 lbs, with black hair, a distinctive tattoo on his left forearm, and a blue mask covering his face, confronted the woman at her car, threatening her with a gun, though never brandishing it.
Phoenix Police Sgt. Brian Bower said the suspect "told her specifically that he had a gun and that he would use it if she continued to scream," according to an interview with AZ Family. The victim complied, enduring a brief struggle that concluded with her wallet on the ground and the suspect fleeing the scene down a nearby alley.
Even though the gun was not used during the incident; the robbery is being treated as armed due to the explicit threats made by the perpetrator. Local worker Alfonso Ramirez expressed his shock to AZ Family, stating, "It's a family store. Like a lot of families come here with their kids and all that so it's surprising to see that somebody had just come in and rob a woman, a grown woman like that."
Police are emphasizing the unique tattoo on the man's arm, hoping it may lead to his identification. "It looks like a black and white style tattoo. It covers his entire left forearm from his elbow down to his wrist. It’s really hard to make out specific pictures of what the tattoo is of, but I understand there’s a lot of tattoo artists that might be able to recognize some of their own artwork,” Sgt. Bower told AZ Family. Those with information are encouraged to reach out to Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (480-837-8446) for Spanish speakers. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at silentwitness.org, with possible rewards of up to $1,000 for leads that result in an arrest.
