Roughly 25 rounds from assault rifle fired in Newton robbery, official says

About 25 rounds were fired from an assault rifle during a robbery at a Newton convenience store Tuesday morning, according to Newton Director of Communications Erin McDaniel.

Three Wichita men were later arrested in Salina in connection to the case after officers were led on a pursuit that ended with a crash. Two were arrested after the crash, while one ran on foot before later being arrested. Jeremiah Urias, 18, Rico Montes, 27, and Jorge Correa-Renteria, 25, were booked into the Harvey County Jail.

The Newton Police Department said the robbery occurred at around 5:45 a.m. at E-Z Trip Convenience store on Main Street. Two men went into the store with a handgun and assault rifle. One of them pointed the handgun at the store clerk.

About 25 rounds were fired from the assault rifle — including more than 10 at an ATM, as well as at the ceiling and merchandise. The robbers weren’t able to get any cash from the ATM but did leave with an undisclosed amount of money, according to McDaniel. Nothing else was taken.

“No shots were fired at the clerk,” McDaniel said in a news release.

A description of the getaway vehicle was relayed to surrounding law enforcement.

“About an hour later, Kansas Highway Patrol in Salina located the suspect vehicle and began a pursuit,” the Newton Police Department said in a Facebook post. “The vehicle crashed in Salina, and at least one suspect fled on foot. All three individuals are now in custody.” All three men face charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated assault; Correa-Renteria also faces a charge of aggravated kidnapping.

The driver of the vehicle being pursued hit another car on Magnolia Street, near Salina South High School. Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner said the driver of the vehicle hit wasn’t injured.

The Salina School District was alerted about the one person who ran on foot. District Public Information Director Jennifer Bradford-Vernon said it didn’t interfere with school activities, but school staff monitored exterior doors until the issue was “quickly resolved.” Parents and guardians were informed about the incident, Bradford-Vernon said.

The three men “have no Newton ties, as far as we know, and we have no idea why Newton or this convenience store were targets,” McDaniel said. “The suspects are all believed to have been using drugs before the robbery.”

McDaniel said in an email that the rifle was recovered but the handgun wasn’t.

This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 9:14 AM.