Police say armed robber who face-planted into Pizza Hut door left DNA

From Staff Reports | Las Cruces Sun-News

Show Caption Hide Caption Video shows alleged Pizza Hut robber face-planting into door A video released by the Las Cruces Police Department show the moment alleged robber Markell Deshaun Barnes, run into a door while trying to escape.

LAS CRUCES - Police say DNA collected from where a man face-planted into a door as he tried to flee a Las Cruces restaurant was the evidence needed to identify the suspect responsible for two armed robberies committed the same day in June.

Markell Deshaun Barnes, 19, of the 1800 block of Ash Avenue, is charged with one third-degree felony count of attempted armed robbery and one fourth-degree felony count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Both charges are for the attempted armed robbery June 25, 2019, at the Pizza Hut at 2205 Missouri Ave.

Barnes is also the prime suspect in another armed robbery earlier that day.

The first robbery, police say, was about 12:15 a.m. at the Giant gas station, 1865 University Ave. The second robbery was reported that evening, about 10:30 p.m., at the Pizza Hut restaurant. No injuries were reported in either case.

In the Pizza Hut case, police reviewed surveillance images and noticed the suspect tried running out a door that had already been locked for the evening. The suspect face-planted into the door, police say, before reversing direction and running out another exit.

Police swabbed the door for possible DNA evidence. The evidence collected was sent to the New Mexico forensic laboratory in Santa Fe where DNA was confirmed. Police say the unknown DNA profile was entered into CODIS — the Combined DNA Index System — where it matched a known sample of Barnes.

Barnes was arrested on a warrant last week by police in Albuquerque and has since been transferred to the Doña Ana County Detention Center where he is initially being held without bond.

Additional charges are expected to be filed against Barnes for the Giant gas station robbery, police said.