Suspect in Hays County aggravated robbery still at large

With the arrest of the first suspect, a 16-year-old, prosecutors in Hays County spent Thursday trying to decide if this case will remain in Juvenile Court or if the suspects will be tried as adults.

The Valero Convenience store in Niederwald, on Hwy 21, is open for business, despite what happened Saturday night. The violent actions by the two suspects can be seen in security video released by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. One was armed with a hand gun and the other had an AR-15 rifle. The reckless conduct even shocked top lawmen in Hays County.

"To say the anger for everyone within our agency, including the sheriff, is astronomical,” said Lt. Jeri Skrocki with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.

The store clerk gave the two gunmen money from the cash register even though he had been shot in the leg.
 
"The man was compliant, he was compliant, he was doing what they said, as you can clearly see in the video, and the fact that the individual with the rifle is shooting out one of the coolers for no reason, discharges another round at the clerk. And then actually goes outside and chases a potential witness and fires a round,” said Lt. Skrocki.

That witness is a person sitting in a small sedan which was parked out front as the bandits first ran into the store.

"Saw that and is kind of had that minute of, did I just see what I saw,” said Skrocki.

The suspect with the AR-15 can be seen firing a shot at the driver as the car sped away. 

The 16-year-old bandit with the rifle is from Buda and was arrested at a South Austin apartment complex after authorities received a tip. He refused to identify the other gunman.

Investigators say the weapons used in the robbery have been recovered. The ATF is helping Hays County Trace the AR-15 and the handgun.

A cash reward of up to $1000  is still being offered.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Hays County Sheriff's Office.