FLATONIA - In the early morn - ing hours of Aug. 1, there was a home-invasion-style aggravated rob - bery near Interstate 10 in Flatonia.
Two females and three males were allegedly involved, with the male sub - jects wearing masks and carrying fire arms. The sole occupant of the residence was robbed at gunpoint and several items were allegedly taken, including personal identification documents, electronic devices, and money. The robbery team then fled the area on Interstate 10. Officer Taylor Amos responded to the initial call and gathered evidence and information from the scene. Inves - tigator Geneva Titus began an exten - sive investigation that tied this group to an ongoing string of similar violent crimes, including a similar robbery in Guadalupe County the night before, where a shot was fired at the victim. Titus worked the majority of the investigation in cooperation with agencies in Comal, Guadalupe, Bexar and Kendall counties, and every offi -
cer in the Flatonia Police Department contributed to the investigation in various ways by assisting with trac - ing firearms, identifying vehicles, as - sisting with photo arrays of suspects, performing follow-up interviews, and other activities related to their various fields of expertise. Through lengthy and diligent inves - tigative efforts and ongoing commu nication with other law enforcement agencies along the I-10 and Interstate 35 corridors, Titus was able to track this organized criminal group and identify all members involved. The nature of the crimes, and phone and text communications among mem - bers within the group make it clear that they posed an ongoing public safety threat throughout the region.
As a direct result of Titus' efforts and coordination with other law en- forcement agencies, all members of the group have been taken into custody. Currently, members of this crimi - nal organization are facing first-degree felony charges in Fayette County for Aggravated Robbery and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity.
They also face similar charges in
Comal and Guadalupe counties, as well as additional charges in Bexar County, where two members of the group fired on law enforcement offi - cers during a vehicle pursuit. The suspects in this case are Jade Happel, 25, of New Braunfels; Ashlynn Beare, 22, of New Braunfels; Nicholas Thomas, 33, of Spring Branch; Akim Garcia, 22, of San Antonio and Jason Shussler, 22, of San Antonio. Happel and Beare are in the Gua - dalupe County Jail, Schussler and Gar - cia are in the Bexar County Jail, and Thomas is in the Comal County Jail at press time.
The Flatonia Police Department would like to thank Detective Baxter and the Comal County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division, the Schertz Police Department, the Bulverde Police De - partment, and the Texas Fusion Cen - ter for ongoing assistance and support throughout this investigation. Initial arraignments are scheduled to begin within the next two weeks, while all suspects remain in custody. Because of the diligent police work, a violent robbery gang was taken down and lives saved.
