2 arrested in Christmas Day armed robbery at Davenport gas station: ‘I will shoot you’

DAVENPORT, Fla. - Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says two people were not celebrating Christmas appropriately when they pulled into a Davenport 7-Eleven and robbed a man at gunpoint.

Deputies arrested Christian Ayala and Najee Mears on New Year’s Eve in connection with the armed robbery.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the victim, who was visiting family in Polk County and staying at a Davenport Airbnb, went to the 7-Eleven on Finley Avenue around 5 p.m. on Christmas Day to clean up a coffee spill in the back of his car.

Investigators say he parked his car next to the vacuum and car wash area in the parking lot and began cleaning his car.

When he went inside the store to get more napkins, deputies say Ayala and Mears drove into the parking lot in Ayala's gray Honda Accord and parked in front of the victim's car.

According to PCSO, the pair confronted the victim when he went back to his car.

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That’s when deputies say Mears pointed a gun at the victim and told him to "give them what he had" and "don't try anything, or I will shoot you."

The victim handed over his backpack that contained his wallet and personal belongings, including cash and credit cards, according to PCSO.

The victim gave deputies a detailed description of the suspects and their vehicle. Deputies also got video surveillance, which corroborated the victim's statements and descriptions.

PCSO robbery detectives were able to identify the suspect's vehicle, which was registered at an address on Sunny Day Way in Davenport.

Courtesy: Polk County Sheriff's Office

On New Year’s Eve, detectives went to the home on Sunny Day Way and spoke with Ayala and his mother.

His mother confirmed that Ayala lived at the address and told deputies that she rented a room to Mears.

Deputies say Ayala was cooperative and admitted to committing the armed robbery with Mears.

According to PCSO, Mears initially refused to get out of the house and detectives saw him trying to jump over the back fence of the property. He ultimately surrendered peacefully and also confessed to the crime.

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During a search of their rooms, detectives said they found the victim's backpack and the personal belongings that were inside of it. They also seized 45.90 grams of marijuana from Mears' room, and 35.60 grams of marijuana from Ayala's room.

Mears also had a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun in his room, according to PCSO.

"These two were certainly not celebrating Christmas appropriately - they were sticking a gun in someone's face," Judd stated. "Luckily, they didn't shoot the victim or anyone else, and thanks to the swift actions and excellent investigative skills of my detectives, they are now both behind bars."

At the time of the armed robbery, deputies said Ayala was on probation for possession of marijuana over 20 grams and Mears had an outstanding Polk County warrant for failure to appear (original charge, petit theft) and two prior felony convictions in New Jersey for unlawful possession of a firearm and criminal trespassing.

The Source: This story was written with information provided by the Polk County Sheriff's Office

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