Hobbs Police Department (HPD) has arrested two Hobbs men for “Armed Robbery” at Allsups on the morning of Wednesday, September 21. The subjects of the robbery have been identified as Daijon Williams, age 18, and Javin Najera, also 18, both of Hobbs.
The Allsups convenience store is located at 1100 East Sanger Street in Hobbs.
The incident happened in the “morning hours”, states the HPD on its Facebook page. “Officers learned the store clerk was standing outside of the store when he was approached by two males. The two individuals pointed handguns at the clerk and attempted to take his vehicle.”
The HPD report states that the subjects forced the clerk back into the store at gunpoint. The two subjects demanded that the clerk “open the cash register.” The clerk complied with the demand and opened the cash register. Subsequently, the robbers took the money from the cash register and “fled the store eastbound on foot.”
After pursuing the subjects, HPD officers located the two men “running in a field east of Hobbs High School.” After a short pursuit HPD officers were able to detain the two men and take them into custody. Both had “…concealed firearms on their person at the time of arrest and also had stolen money from the robbery in their possession,” states the HPD in its report.
After his arrest for the armed robbery, Hobbs police learned that Najera has an active arrest warrant issued by Hobbs Municipal Court for traffic violations.
Both Williams and Najera have been charged, among other charges, for: Robbery, a Second Degree Felony; Kidnapping, a First Degree Felony; Attempt to Commit a Felony (robbery of the victim’s vehicle), a Third Degree Felony; Conspiracy (to Robbery), a Third Degree Felony; and the Unlawful Carrying of a Deadly Weapon, a Misdemeanor.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call the HPD Hobbs at (575) 397-9265 or Lea County Crime Stoppers at (575) 393-8005.
Adam Lindsey, a former Allsups employee, gives some insight about working the overnight shift at this convenience store on the 411 Hobbs NM Neighborhood Watch Facebook page. Lindsey says, “I worked for Allsups years ago, overnight. Maybe, eventually in my employment there, maybe I started carrying. Maybe I knew of other employees doing the same thing. Maybe it was against policy. Maybe it was even against the law. Regardless, maybe some employees are still carrying. Maybe teach your kids $30-$50 isn’t worth being potentially shot and killed over… because maaaaybe, if someone pointed a gun at me, maybe I’d take my chances and maybe maybe maybe I’d do everything I could to make sure they didn’t have a good chance of ending my life.”
Reactions to the story have been mixed, with some calling for harsh punishments for the teens while others pointing to systemic problems that cause crime. Devon Frite commented, “Everyone wants to pass judgement, but no one wants to help! Prayers for the cashiers and prayers for the community. Neglecting and demonizing these kids won’t keep them from affecting society.”
Sara Yarbrough posted, “Most of these kids need a help up and society is not there to do that, but society sure will kick you down fast. Our community needs resources to help kids, and families not just keep kicking them down.”
Currently, Williams and Najera are incarcerated at the Hobbs City Jail. Their arraignment in Hobbs Magistrate Court is pending.
