Three teenagers were arrested by Gainesville police in connection with an armed robbery incident that occurred over the weekend at a local Walmart.
On Saturday, July 1, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Gainesville Police Department officers responded to the Walmart Supercenter located at 5700 NW 23rd Street in Gainesville in reference to a reported robbery. Upon arrival, they made contact with a male victim who advised that a man, later identified as 18-year-old Clifford Dewayne Worley, had approached him and asked to borrow his cellphone to make a call, according to a social media post from GPD.
The victim advised that he handed his cellphone to Worley, and Worley walked away to a vehicle. After a few minutes, the victim stated that he approached the vehicle that Worley was sitting in and asked for his cellphone back. According to the victim, Worley pulled out a handgun, pulled the slide back, pointed it at the victim, and told him to “back up.”
While allegedly still pointing the gun at the victim, Worley told the victim that the cellphone was “now his,” and Worley proceeded to flee from the area in a vehicle occupied by three other suspects, according to police.
GPD stated that at approximately 10:45 a.m., the suspects’ vehicle was spotted at the Dollar General located at 145 NE 39th Avenue, and the four suspects were detained. According to police, Worley had unsuccessfully attempted to sell the victim’s cellphone at a kiosk, and the cellphone was located inside the suspects’ vehicle.
Officers interviewed the driver of the vehicle, identified as 18-year-old Arianna Grace Muhammad, and she allegedly confessed to the robbery.
GPD stated that officers conducted a pat-down search of one of the vehicle’s passengers, identified as a 17-year-old boy, and a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun was located in the front pocket of his pants. This firearm had been reported stolen out of a pawn shop in Jessup, Georgia.
According to GPD, a preliminary investigation revealed that the four suspects were from Georgia, and they had stolen the victim’s cellphone in order to get enough money to return to Georgia. A search of the suspects’ vehicle was conducted and two firearms were recovered. One of these firearms had been used in the robbery and the other was reported stolen.
In reference to the stolen firearms, detectives from the Jessup Police Department responded to GPD headquarters to interview the teens because they were suspects in several burglary incidents. Gainesville police stated that approximately 13 firearms had been stolen from businesses and conveyances in Jessup.
Worley and Muhammad were arrested and transported to Alachua County Jail. According to GPD, Worley is being charged with robbery with a firearm and Muhammad is being charged with being an accessory after the fact to a robbery with a firearm.
In addition, the 17-year-old boy has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to a robbery with a firearm, possession of a concealed firearm, and giving a false name.
The Gainesville Police Department did not provide any details regarding the fourth suspect who was detained in connection with the robbery case.