Gang Member Apprehended for Armed Robbery in Magnolia

On November 28, 2023, at approximately 11:15 a.m., Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a robbery call at a business on FM 2978 in Magnolia. According to reports, a heavily tattooed Hispanic male entered the establishment donning a mask and brandishing a firearm. The suspect demanded cash and vape pens from the clerk, prompting a rapid response from law enforcement.

As deputies probed the initial robbery, they received another 911 call detailing a separate robbery nearby. Video surveillance footage played a crucial role in identifying a license plate on a silver SUV linked to the suspect. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Real Time Crime Center utilized this information to pinpoint a potential address associated with the suspect vehicle.

Deputies from the District 4 Patrol Division swiftly converged on the identified location. Around 12:45 p.m., they spotted the suspect vehicle in motion, driven by a heavily tattooed Hispanic male matching the description from the previous robberies. Initiating a felony stop, law enforcement took Michael Jonathan Lopez into custody. Lopez was subsequently transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he faces charges of two counts of Aggravated Robbery and is being held without bond.

During Lopez’s arrest, it was discovered that he had his two young step-children in the vehicle with him at the time of the robberies. Fortunately, the children were safely released to a family member. Homicide and Violent Crimes Detectives, the Gang Investigations Unit, and Crime Scene Investigators are actively participating in the ongoing investigation.

Michael Jonathan Lopez is a confirmed gang member with a criminal history, having served prison time for armed robbery in the past and currently being on probation for narcotics charges from earlier this year.

Sheriff Henderson stated, “I am so proud of the swift action of our deputies and the Real Time Crime Center. Today we brought another dangerous criminal off the streets of Montgomery County. We will continue to aggressively pursue individuals like Michael Lopez and bring them to justice.”