Masked Gunman Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison For Leon County Z-Mart Robbery

Tallahassee, Florida - Laquinton Harris, 36, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for Hobbs Act Robbery, Brandishing a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "This violent criminal tried to hide behind a mask to get away with armed robbery, but now he'll spend his days behind federal bars. Our community owes a debt of gratitude for the outstanding investigative work of the Leon County Sheriff's Office, FDLE, and ATF, which swiftly led to the identification and apprehension of this dangerous thug so my office could successfully prosecute him. My office will continue to prioritize the aggressive prosecution of crime in this district to incapacitate violent offenders and deliver the safe, crime-free communities our citizens deserve."

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 was sentenced to a total of 108 months in prison, structured as 24 months for Hobbs Act Robbery and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, followed by a consecutive 84 months for Brandishing a Firearm during a Crime of Violence. Upon his release from imprisonment, the defendant will be on supervised release for a period of 5 years. The defendant was also ordered to pay $547 in restitution to the Z-Mart.

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 was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

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 FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.