Masked Gunman who Robbed Leon County Z Mart Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges

Tallahassee, Florida – Laquinton Harris, 36, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to Hobbs Act Robbery, Brandishing a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplifies the outstanding investigative work performed by our state and federal law enforcement partners, who swiftly identified and caught this defendant despite his efforts to conceal his identity during his violent crime. This successful prosecution delivers a clear message: the safety of our community is not negotiable, and my office will aggressively prosecute these cases to keep violent offenders, like this defendant, off our streets and behind bars where they belong.” Court records showed a masked gunman robbed the Z Mart convenience store at 4015 Fred George Road on January 30, 2026, during which the gunman discharged his firearm into the floor: During the investigation of the armed robbery, Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputies found an apparent bullet strike on the wooden flooring and a spent .22 caliber shell casing. On April 2, 2026, ATF executed a federal search warrant at the defendant’s residence and found a .22 caliber rifle, which ballistic testing showed matched the shell casing found in the Z Mart. They also found distinctive clothing that matched clothing worn by the robber. Distinctive ripped pants worn by the robber, found in the defendant’s home Gloves worn by the robber, found in the defendant’s home The defendant’s DNA was found on both the pants and gloves recovered during the search warrant. The defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison, which must be consecutive to his sentence for the robbery, and a maximum of up to life imprisonment, up to 5 years of supervised release, and up to a $750,000 fine. The case involved an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. Sentencing is scheduled for October 19, 2026, at 2:00 pm, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .