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Published on January 15, 2025
Teenagers Charged in Attempted Armed Robbery of Vape Store in West El PasoSource: El Paso Police Department

Two teenagers are facing serious charges following their attempt to hold up a vape store in West El Paso. Authorities have identified the suspects as Antonio Bueno and Caleb Ezekiel Gonzalez, both aged 17. The El Paso Police Department responded to an emergency call from Vape City on Doniphan Drive shortly after 9 p.m. on Monday, as reported by KTSM.

The duo has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest or detention. Fleeing the scene after an employee courageously refused to acquiesce to their demands, the teens were apprehended by police. According to the El Paso Times, one of the suspects brandished a gun during the botched robbery attempt.

As detailed by KFOX-TV, a handgun was confiscated following the failed robbery. Despite their status as minors, Bueno and Gonzalez have been booked into the El Paso County Detention facility. Their mugshots were not released.

While both Bueno and Gonzalez face the same charges relating to aggravated assault and evading arrest, the community is left to grapple with the underlying issues that drive young individuals toward such acts of desperation. The detention facility confirmed that booking procedures for the two teenagers were followed properly, according to KFOX-TV. The incident prompts a deeper contemplation on the societal and systemic influences at play, daring to unravel a fabric woven with threads of disenfranchisement and barred opportunity.