$120K bond for suspect in violent robberies at Houston vehicle retailers

HOUSTON — A judge has established bond for the gentleman accused of robbing two vehicle stores in north Houston.

Andrew Garza, 20, was arrested on Thursday, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. He is believed to be the person witnessed on camera pistol-whipping personnel from both of those companies and robbing a person of them.

Linked: ‘We obtained away with our life’ | Victims in violent automobile store theft thankful suspect was arrested

Garza appeared in courtroom for a probable induce listening to at close to 10 p.m. Thursday evening. 

The judge established his bond at $120,000 for two expenses of aggravated theft with a deadly weapon.

Paperwork received by KHOU 11 exhibit that a further robbery charge was submitted versus Garza on Friday. The bond for that circumstance has not been set.

The judge also explained Garza was already out of jail on bond when the robberies transpired.

His up coming court docket day is scheduled for Monday, April 11.

Observe: The adhering to videos had been uploaded on Thursday, April 7

Connected: Suspect pistol whips staff members in the course of violent robberies at two Houston firms

Authorities stated Garza posed as a consumer on March 29 at EntireX Tire and Wheel in northeast Houston inquiring about finding new tires on his truck.

Which is when they said he attacked 1 of the store’s clerks and set a gun to her head.

The robbery lasted 3 minutes, and the attacker reportedly got absent with $2,000, phones, and other objects. He was found getting into a white Ford truck with blacked-out home windows and two other adult males ready within.

The victims were retail outlet owner Myke Hastings’ brother and wife. He discovered out what took place whilst he was doing the job on automobiles out in the garage.

“My wife doesn’t want to occur in anymore,” Hastings explained. “Which is a further matter, staff or relatives, it does not matter. This is not a position they attribute to safety any longer.”

Hastings claimed his staff members now congregate in increased quantities in the store, and anytime a opportunity buyer suspiciously backs into the parking large amount, he is on warn.

“Even 3 or 4 seconds is plenty of time to respond to preserve your life or preserve you from being the up coming sufferer,” Hastings stated.

According to court documents, Andrew Garza was caught following an nameless tip. After his arrest was declared, Hastings expressed aid.

“Eights times is a hell of a turnaround time, primarily with what they are heading by way of, so we are extremely grateful for the peace of thoughts they have been in a position to give us, due to the fact up till that cellphone contact, we had been nervous,” he stated.

Hastings’ small business was not the only one particular qualified.

Across the freeway, just five minutes prior to the attack on March 29, the exact same guy was caught on surveillance movie at Distinctive DTS, a automobile add-ons store.

He’s noticed walking close to the retail store before leaving in the white Ford truck seen at Hastings’ store.

Monday morning, Unique DTS operator Luis Sanchez mentioned the exact man confirmed up all over again, but this time the only other particular person in the store was a woman performing guiding the desk.

“He hit Angie. She’s our secretary. She’s our entrance desk. She’s bleeding, and her fingers are damaged,” Sanchez stated.

She was taken to a medical center and experienced to get staples in her head from her accidents.

“He received absent with $2,000. We got away with our life,” claimed Hastings.

“What we’ve received by a large amount of this is a large amount of psychological consciousness,” he stated. “We choose better safety measures, we have superior coverage, we have greater security actions on-web page, and we are all being hypervigilant and in excess of aware.”