Police officers were able to track down and arrest a trio of suspected culprits who targeted a victim and robbed them at gunpoint at a Tampa hotel. Police believe that the victim was first scouted out at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, leading to the subsequent assault. The casino sits about two miles from the hotel where the robbery took place.
“This was a coordinated, violent crime that left the victim shaken and robbed at gunpoint,” Hillsborough county sheriff Chad Chronister said, adding:
“Thanks to the diligent work of our detectives and the assistance of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, all three suspects have been identified and taken into custody. We remain committed to holding violent offenders accountable and ensuring they face justice.”
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said that the armed robbery was conducted on July 23 at an Extended Stay America on East Sligh Avenue by three individuals. The victim was playing at the casino where one of the robbers met him prior to the assault.
Based on investigators’ accounts, the suspected culprits, Angelina Johnson, 20, Mario Dejournett, 22, and Tyrik Griffin, 22, attacked the victim in the parking lot.
During the confrontation, Dejournett and Griffin pulled out guns before making off with the victim’s wallet and jewelry. Police action was swift immediately in the wake of the attack, with law enforcement able to arrest Johnson and Dejournett on July 24, and sent to Orient Road Jail on July 29.
Griffin was arrested more recently by Pinellas County deputies on July 31, and he has been transferred to Hillsborough County. It is not immediately clear how much the stolen wallet and jewelry are worth, with police charging them with theft over $750 but less than $20,000. The Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains ongoing.