Man Charged in Columbus Robbery

Gaston

COLUMBUS, Miss. (Police Press release) — On February 11^th at approximately 04:05 a.m., the Columbus Police Department received a call of an Armed Robbery at the Sprint Mart located at 2021 Military Road in Columbus.

The caller was a clerk for the store who stated a co-worker was abducted during the robbery and forced to leave, against her will, with the robber.

The robber and kidnapped employee left in a 2005 gold Grand Marquis which was later found to be a stolen vehicle.  The owner of the vehicle listed Autravious Tiyon Gaston, 33, of West Point, as a potential suspect of the stolen car.

The kidnapping victim was released in West Point where West Point Police found her. Gaston and the employee abducted did not know each other.

Columbus Police Investigators, West Point Police and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office initiated an aggressive manhunt for Gaston and the 2005 Grand Marquis. The car was found at Town Creek Apartments in West Point and Gaston was found hiding in an apartment there.  He was taken into custody without incident and transported back to Columbus around 9:30 a.m.

Gaston was identified as the person who stole the vehicle, robbed the Sprint Mart, and kidnapped the store employee.

Gaston will be arraigned today at Columbus Police Department for the charges of Felony Taking of a Motor Vehicle, Armed Robbery, and Kidnapping.

The Columbus Police Department thanks the West Point Police and Clay County Sheriff’s Office for the support and help in locating  the store employee and assisting with this case.