Surveillance tape leads to armed robbery arrest

The brazen gunman who allegedly robbed a store in one of the busiest parts of town Monday was arrested just two days after the heist.

The suspect, John Wesley Rader, 18, is charged with aggravated robbery and theft over $500 and is being held under $75,000 bond awaiting his day in court May 1.

Rader faces the felony charges for allegedly robbing Northgate Shell Station around 9 p.m. Monday, hitting the rarely robbed store which is not only located across the street from Wal-Mart but is next to a busy carnival in town this week.

According to police reports, Rader was wearing a mask when he entered the store with gun in hand, and ordered the lone male clerk to hand over the store?s money. However, the clerk, who was busy stocking shelves, laughed off the demand, thinking it was a hoax.

The gunman then walked over to the cash register and helped himself to $557 in cash and a pack of cigarettes. He then fled the store and remained at large for two days while investigators tried to determine his identity.

The break came when officers figured out the robber had cased the store before the robbery.

A search of the security surveillance tape revealed Rader, not wearing the mask, canvassing the store before returning for the robbery, which was also caught on camera, revealing the similarities between the robber and Rader when he was there planning the crime.

Rader was called in for questioning Wednesday, during which time he reportedly confessed to his involvement in the heist.