IRVING, Texas - A Fort Worth man accused of robbing a victim at gunpoint at an Irving car wash was arrested minutes after the crime, and investigators later connected him to an earlier armed robbery that had already resulted in an arrest warrant.
According to the Irving Police Department, Officer Jay Montanez was at a QuikTrip on Aug. 1 when a Hispanic man approached him at approximately 2 p.m. and reported he had just been robbed at the Lil Rascals Car Wash in the 400 block of South Loop 12 near Irving Boulevard.
The victim told the officer that a Black male approached him while he was washing his vehicle, initially asking for money. After the victim handed over a small amount of cash, the suspect allegedly demanded all of his money, telling him he would die if he refused.
The victim told officers the suspect kept an object concealed beneath his shirt and pointed it toward him, leading the victim to believe it was a handgun. Fearing for his life, the victim surrendered approximately $560 before the suspect walked away.
Before leaving, the victim spotted the suspect sitting at a nearby bus stop at Irving Boulevard and South Irving Heights Drive and immediately alerted Officer Montanez.
Responding officers quickly located a man matching the description and detained him. During a consensual search, officers recovered approximately $800 from the suspect's front left pants pocket.
The suspect initially identified himself as "Reginald Hunter" and claimed to be 24 years old.
Investigators soon discovered the suspect had provided false information. Police identified him as 28-year-old Darion Regshan Hunter, explaining that "Reginald Hunter" is actually his brother.
Hunter was arrested and booked into the Irving Jail on charges of aggravated robbery and failure to identify as a fugitive by giving false information.
Detectives Had Already Identified Hunter in Earlier Robbery
Investigators also learned Hunter was already wanted on an aggravated robbery warrant obtained by Irving detectives during an unrelated investigation stemming from a robbery that occurred one week earlier.
According to police, officers responded on July 24 to a robbery at the Valero gas station in the 4000 block of N. Belt Line Road at W. Country Club Drive.
Investigators determined the victim had exited the convenience store when he was followed by an unknown Black male.
The suspect demanded money from the victim. When the victim claimed he had no cash, the suspect told him he had already seen the "wad of cash" and warned, "I'm not asking, I'm telling you."
Police said the suspect then placed his hand inside his pocket in a manner that made it appear he was holding a firearm and threatened to pull out the gun and shoot the victim if he did not comply.
Fearing for his life, the victim handed over between $400 and $500.
The suspect then demanded the victim's car keys and cell phone. The victim surrendered only his car keys.
Investigators said the suspect fled on foot, crossed into the Silverton Apartments, threw the victim's keys into nearby bushes, and continued walking north on N. Belt Line Road.
Officers obtained surveillance footage from both the Valero gas station and the apartment complex. Police said the videos corroborated the victim's account and provided investigators with clear images of the suspect, including distinctive facial and neck tattoos and a prominent birthmark on his cheek.
Despite those images, officers were initially unable to identify the suspect.
Hotel Employees Help Detectives Identify Suspect
On July 28, Irving detectives visited the HomeTowne Studios hotel in the 3400 block of W. Walnut Hill Lane because it was located in the direction the suspect fled and was known to investigators as a location frequently associated with violent offenders.
After detectives showed surveillance images to hotel staff, employees immediately recognized the suspect as Darion Hunter.
Detectives then obtained a previous booking photograph from Hunter's April 2026 arrest by the North Richland Hills Police Department. Investigators noted the booking photo matched the suspect's distinctive facial/neck tattoo and birthmark visible in the surveillance footage.
On July 29, detectives presented the robbery victim with a six-person photographic lineup using a double-blind sequential procedure. The victim positively identified Hunter as the man who robbed him at gunpoint.
Based on that identification and the evidence collected during the investigation, detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging Hunter with aggravated robbery.
Even after the warrant was issued, investigators were unable to locate Hunter until he allegedly committed the Aug. 1 robbery at the Lil Rascals Car Wash, where the victim's quick report to a nearby police officer led to his arrest within minutes.
Extensive Criminal History
Hunter remains in custody on the aggravated robbery charges and the failure to identify charge. His total bond was set at $401,500.
Court records show Hunter has an extensive criminal history in North Texas, including arrests in Tarrant and Denton counties.
His prior arrests include drug possession, resisting arrest, unlawful carrying of a weapon, theft, evading arrest and providing false identification to law enforcement. His listed residence is in Fort Worth.
