Gas Station Robber Who Crashed Into Apartment Complex Sentenced

A robber who led police on a 100 mph chase before crashing into an apartment complex was sentenced today to over 21 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

Jaden Christofer Tipton, 21, was indicted in October 2023 and pleaded guilty in February 2024 to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix to a total of 255 months imprisonment.

In plea papers, Mr. Tipton admitted to robbing two Lubbock gas stations the course of just 53 minutes on July 10, 2023.

In both robberies, Mr. Tipton pulled a firearm from his waistband, chambered a round, pointed it at the nearest cashier, and demanded all the money in the register.

Shortly after the second robbery, officers located Mr. Tipton's blue four-door traveling eastbound. They attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Mr. Tipton fled, leading officers on a high-speed chase before crashing into an apartment complex, where he was taken into custody.

Inside Mr. Tipton's vehicle, officers found a black bag of cash and a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol.

At Thursday's sentencing hearing, prosecutors noted that when the defendant crashed into the apartment complex, he rammed into a couple's bedroom. Both were hospitalized with serious injuries.

Both convenience store clerks submitted written statements to the Court, which were read at sentencing.

Tipton's crime "uprooted my entire life and sent my mental state spiraling," wrote clerk B.V.

"I wake up from night terrors, seeing that whole experience replaying in my mind, hearing that bullet going into the chamber," clerk J.N. wrote.

The Lubbock Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives' Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Rancourt prosecuted the case.