Dollar General hit by armed robbers; suspects still at large
Security footage of the incident captured an image of the three suspects.
Three masked men brandishing handguns robbed the Dollar General store on the south end of Taos on the evening of Dec. 20.
A local resident notified law enforcement after witnessing three men enter the store wearing masks and dark clothing. The store is located at 1531 Paseo del Pueblo Sur.
Taos police, Taos County sheriff's deputies and New Mexico State Police responded to the call at about 8:38 p.m. When they arrived, however, all three suspects had fled – allegedly on foot.
Witnesses, some of whom were briefly held at gunpoint in the store, said all the male suspects were "large." One was wearing a green camouflage, bandana-type mask, a hoodie with a visible white shirt underneath, white tennis shoes, and was brandishing a white or silver semi-automatic handgun.
A second suspect, described as the largest of the three, was wearing dark blue pants, black shoes, a Halloween-type mask, blue gloves, and brandished a black semi-automatic handgun.
The third suspect was described as wearing a dark hoodie with what appeared to be a frayed dark cloth covering his face, overly long pants, dark tennis shoes, black gloves, and was brandishing a stainless steel revolver.
A security camera near the checkout counter confirmed the descriptions — showing two of the suspects pointing their firearms at the cashier and another presumably controlling customers. Judging by the way the firearms were held, law enforcement have determined that all three suspects are right-handed.
Witness reports indicate that the suspects stole approximately $200 in cash and property in under one minute before fleeing the scene.
The suspects remain unidentified and at large.
Taos Police Chief Randall Parmer said the incident took place during one of the quieter times of the year for criminal activity. He said the lack of a getaway vehicle or any "good suspect" makes the investigation a particularly challenging one. On Jan. 11, Parmer told The Taos News, "[There's] nothing new [in the case]. Witnesses could not provide any additional information. [There are] no links to any other crimes at this time."
Anyone with information about the incident or the suspects are asked to call the Taos Police Department at (575) 758-2216 or Taos County Crime Stoppers at (575) 758-4258.
