By Newton Now staff
Three Wichita men have been booked into jail on aggravated robbery charges accused of entering a Newton gas station, firing 25 rifle rounds, brandishing a handgun at the clerk and fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Police received a report of the robbery at EZ TRIP Convenience Store, 100 S. Main Street around 5:45 a.m.
Two men entered the store according to a police release.
““During the robbery, a handgun was brandished to the clerk, and an assault rifle fired approximately 25 rounds inside the store,” director of communications Erin McDaniel said. “An ATM was shot in excess of 10 times, and the ceiling and store merchandise were also hit. No shots were fired at the clerk.”
The men left the store and drove away.
Police reviewed surveillance footage got a license plate and description of the vehicle the thieves fled in and spread that description throughout the area.
The highway patrol eventually made an arrest in the crime following a chase in Salina and the suspects in the crime crashing their vehicle.
At least one suspect fled on foot. All three were detained.
Jeremiah Urias, 18, Rico Montes, 27, and Jorge Correa-Renteria, 25 of Wichita were arrested for the crime.
The men face a plethora of charges including aggravated robbery, kidnapping, assault, and felon in possession of a fire arm.
“They have no Newton ties, as far as we know, and we have no idea why Newton or this convenience store were targets,” McDaniel stated. “The suspects are all believed to have been using drugs before the robbery.”
