Suspect in Puyallup armed robbery turns self in to police after father intervenes

PUYALLUP -- The cashier says it started out as an average day but all that changed at 8:42 a.m. Monday when a gunman walked into the Puyallup convenience store.

Within seconds, suspect walks up to the counter with an empty coffee cup.

"I ringed him up and he gave me a five-dollar bill and I opened the cash register and that's when he just pulled his gun out and he asked for all the money,” said the cashier who wanted to remain anonymous.

In the video, the man can be seen looking around the store as if he was making sure no one else was around.



"It was my first time and I think my mind just went blank so all my focus was on the weapon in his hand,” the cashier said.

The cashier gave the suspect a handful of money, but as he was leaving the store he saw he didn't get everything.

"He saw there were more bills and he was like, 'I want all the money in the cash register,' so I took all the bills and put them in the cup and afterward he told me, 'Now you can call the cops,'” the cashier said.

Puyallup police arrived in minutes and within hours the surveillance video was plastered all over the Internet and it didn't take long for the suspect to be positively identified.

"Citizens had observed the suspect's picture on social media sites, and media websites as well, that led to several tips to our detectives this afternoon. Our detectives were able to determine his identity, reach out to his family and ask for his family's cooperation.

"About 5:30 Monday the suspect came to the Puyallup Police Department with his father. He was turned in and was booked into the Pierce County Jail for robbery in the first degree,” Puyallup Police Capt. Scott Engle said.

Police credit the public but say the arrest still might not have happened as quickly without family members who were willing to do the right thing; only if all their cases could be solved the same way.

"It would be very nice. It would save people a lot of time and trouble and, quite frankly for the suspects themselves, it's just a lot easier if they just come in and turn themselves in,” Engle said.

The suspect is expected in court as early as Tuesday.