Customer strikes, wrestles gun away from store robber

Staff
Published: May 22, 2008

A 7-Eleven store customer foiled a robbery attempt Sunday at 8402 Digges Road by wrestling the would-be robber to the ground and taking away his gun, said Sgt Tim Neumann, Manassas police spokesman.
\ The 40-year-old store clerk told police that the customer walked into the middle of the attempted robbery just as she was preparing to hand the money over to the Hispanic man who was robbing her.

The gunman pointed the pistol at the customer when he walked in to the store, then grabbed him and tried to force him behind the counter, Neumann said.

But the customer punched his assailant in the face, knocked him to the ground and wrestled the gun away, Neumann said.

Bereft of his weapon, the gun man ran away toward Rolling Road, Neumann said.

Police received the call for the attempted robbery at 2:37 a.m. and called in Officer Bryant Arrington and his dog Smoke who tracked the man from the store to a home at 8425 Sunset Drive where they arrested Jose Alberto Miranda Aguilar, also known as Jose Ramos, 18, of 8425 Sunset Drive, Neumann said.

Police charged Aguilar with robbery, abduction, wearing mask in a public place, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and brandishing, Neumann said.

Further investigation led police to believe that Aguilar was also responsible for armed robberies at the CITCO gas station at 8536 Sudley Road on May 7 and on Saturday.

Aguilar is being held without bond at the Prince William-Manassas regional jail pending a June 26 court date, Neumann said.

Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.