Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Robbery/Homicide Unit
-Violent Offender Warrant Unit
Patrol Operations Bureau

Largo Police Department
Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office

Barron Eric Harris Jr. (Arrested)
DOB: 04/29/1999
Address: 1381 Boylan Ave, Clearwater 33756

Mario D Henderson (Arrested)
DOB: 07/18/1989
Address: 1345 Boylan Avenue Apartment A, Clearwater 33756
Charges: One count of Strong Arm Robbery

What:
Detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit have arrested two gas station robbery suspects in unincorporated Clearwater. 

When:
The robbery occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. The first suspect was arrested at about 9:27 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017. The second suspect was arrested on August 29, 2017 at approximately 9:30 p.m. at a residence in Gadsden County, Florida.

Where:
The robbery occurred at the Citgo Gas Station located at 1301 South Missouri Avenue in unincorporated Clearwater.

Why/How:
Detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit have arrested two gas station robbery suspects.

According to detectives, the suspects entered the Citgo Gas Station located at 1301 South Missouri Avenue in unincorporated Clearwater at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1, 2017.

The suspects, 28-year-old Mario D. Henderson and 18-year-old Barron E. Harris Jr., were armed with what appeared to be a black semi- automatic handgun. Once inside the gas station, the suspects demanded grocery items from the store clerk, including cigarettes from behind the counter. The suspects then fled the gas station with the grocery items including the cigarettes, drinks, snacks, laundry detergent, and t –shirt, totaling approximately $88.00 in merchandise. Both suspects exited the gas station and left in a taxi.

Detectives say, Henderson admitted to the robbery and displaying the weapon. Both suspects were also involved in another armed robbery, later the same night, of the A & W restaurant located at 351 North Missouri Avenue, which the Largo Police Department investigated.

Through various investigative techniques, detectives later located the second suspect Barron Harris Jr. in Quincy Fl. On Tuesday, August 29,2017, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Harris was taken into custody by the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office and will be extradited back to Pinellas County.

There were no injuries reported in either robbery.

Henderson is currently housed at the Pinellas County Jail.

The investigation continues.

B. Harris                                              M. Henderson