LAKE WORTH, TX – A man with a violent criminal history was arrested just minutes after robbing a convenience store at gunpoint early Thursday morning, thanks to a swift response by Lake Worth police officers.
At approximately 4:36 a.m. on July 10, the Northwest Emergency Communications Center (NWECC) received a silent panic alarm from a local convenience store. Shortly after, a 9-1-1 call reported a male suspect had threatened the clerk with a handgun while demanding cash. No injuries were reported.
Within three minutes, the first Lake Worth officer arrived at 4:39 a.m., followed by two more officers at 4:40 and 4:42 a.m., respectively. By 4:43 a.m., officers had located the suspect’s vehicle in a nearby business parking lot.
A male matching the suspect’s description and a female accomplice were detained. Officers recovered a loaded 9mm pistol with an extended magazine holding 28 rounds, which matched the firearm used in the robbery.
The suspect was identified as 23-year-old Katriel Girtley of Louisiana, who has prior charges for murder and aggravated assault with a firearm. His alleged getaway driver, 20-year-old Amaya Thompson of Fort Worth, was also arrested.
Both Girtley and Thompson have been charged with aggravated robbery, and additional charges are pending.
During the investigation, officers learned that a neighboring law enforcement agency had reported similar robberies. Girtley matched the suspect description in those cases.
The Lake Worth Police Department is coordinating with surrounding jurisdictions and has requested assistance from the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force as the investigation continues.
