Robbers hit Ortega's
2 men rob local Indian art store at gunpoint

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP — Two men robbed a local business at gunpoint Wednesday evening and fled with jewelry and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Deputy Police Chief John Allen, a spokesman for the Gallup Police Department, said two suspects ordered Gilbert Ortega employees onto the ground at about 6:45 p.m. and smashed a glass display box to gather some of the valuable loot.

Both men were armed with handguns, however, no injuries were reported. The pair then left the east U.S. Highway 66 store by foot in an unknown direction.

Witnesses said the men are Hispanic and in their 20s. The first suspect was wearing black jeans, a black shirt and a black bandana. He is between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 5 inches tall and has a tattoo of stars and a possible name on his neck.

The second suspect was wearing similar clothing as the first and is between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall.
A manager at the business declined comment about the armed robbery Thursday morning.

Investigators are still looking for a man who stole an undisclosed amount of cash from a Tse Bonito gas station April 2.

According to the surveillance footage taken from the business, the suspect walked into the business’ office and took the money without any incident. He then fled the gas station through a back door.

The suspect is Native American and between 5 feet 6 and 5 foot 10 inches tall. He was wearing a white T-shirt with an American flag printed on the front, blue jeans and a baseball cap.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (505) 722-6161. A reward of up to 1,000 is available to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in the case.