Witness recognized alleged dollar store robber, alerted police

Police charged the man suspected in last week’s armed robbery of a Family Dollar store.

Joseph Anthony Murillo, 23, of the 9500 block of Maranatha Way, is charged with one count of armed robbery, a second-degree felony count.

Police officers responded to the armed robbery at the Family Dollar at 3925 S. Main Street shortly before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Officers learned a man wearing a dark hoodie and sunglasses entered the store and walked around for a short while before taking out a kitchen knife and demanding money from a clerk.

Police said several witnesses pursued the suspect as he ran away from the story, but lost sight of the suspect.

One of the witnesses told police she recognized the suspect as Murillo, who she knew through his mother. Officers located Murillo at a relative’s home on the 3800 block of south Main Street.

He was taken into custody without further incident and a subsequent search of the residence resulted in the discovery of the cash taken from the Family Dollar.

Murillo was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center. He has since been released on bond.