ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A man accused of armed robbery at a gas station Sunday in St. Augustine was found Monday and confessed to the holdup, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies had asked the community for help to find the man, later identified as Eric Shaw, 23, and released surveillance images from the robbery.
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The Sheriff's Office said Shaw walked into the Circle K on 465 SR 16 early Sunday morning and lurked for 30 minutes until the clerk was alone. Eventually, Shaw showed a handgun and demanded money from the cash register, deputies said.
The Sheriff's Office said he then left the store in a blue Jeep.
Deputies said after the surveillance pictures were released, tips came in identifying Shaw and a search warrant was executed at his home. Deputies said they found clothing items that were visible in the surveillance video, along with a handgun.
Detectives said Shaw confessed to the robbery, saying he took multiple pills that he thought were Xanax and didn't remember many details, but that he went to the Circle K to rob it because "he had no money after purchasing the Jeep" and needed to take care of "other unexpected expenses."
The Sheriff's Office thanked the public for helping to secure the arrest.
"We all work together to help keep each other safe," the tweet read. "Thank you for helping us!"