Escarpeta charged for Armed Robbery at Puma gas Station

Thirty-four-year-old James Escarpeta was this afternoon marched into the Belmopan Magistrate Court where he answered to two charges relating to Sunday’s brazen armed robbery of the PUMA gas station in Belmopan. Escarpeta was charged with robbery and possession of a firearm without a gun license. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until his next court date, October second.  Escarpeta was shot in the arm after he allegedly robbed Puma Gas Station on Constitution Drive. The incident played out at around one o’clock when a lone gunman held up two gas attendants and escaped. The thief did not get far as one of the alert employees set chase and apprehended him. During the apprehension, a shot was fired and Escarpeta was wounded on his arm.