Arrest Made In Shell Gas Station Robbery, Santa Rosa Police Say

SANTA ROSA, CA — Police in Santa Rosa said the suspect in an armed robbery July 14 of a Shell gas station has been arrested. Louis Thomas Holmes, 28, of Santa Rosa was taken into custody at 11 a.m. Thursday at his workplace, police said.

Holmes was being held in lieu of $220,000 bail Thursday, Sonoma County jail records showed. Police said he was booked on suspicion of felony robbery, violation of parole, burglary, felon in possession of ammunition and felon in possession of drug paraphernalia.

In a search of Holmes' residence Thursday, police said a replica firearm and other evidence believed to be related to the robbery were found.

The armed robbery was reported at 1:30 a.m. July 14 at Shell, 2575 Corby Ave. in South Santa Rosa. The suspect walked into the store armed with what appeared to be a rifle or shotgun, and placed the gun on the back of a customer who was at the front counter, police said.

The suspect demanded money and was given an undisclosed amount of cash from the register. The suspect also stole one victim’s wallet before heading northbound on Corby Avenue, according to police.

Holmes was identified as the suspect after the Santa Rosa Police Department shared security camera footage of the robbery on social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor and YouTube, police said.

"Based on the video that was released multiple tips were received," police officials said. "Detectives worked quickly to follow potential leads and the suspect in the robbery was identified."

The Santa Rosa Police Department thanked "every person who viewed and shared the video."

"Your efforts resulted in the right person watching it and reporting to police," SRPD said.