Teens Armed with AR-15 Style Rifle Ambush Social Media Creators in Gas Station Robbery

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL — Two teenagers are in custody and facing serious charges after they allegedly conducted an armed ambush on juvenile social media creators at a Port St. Lucie gas station. The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office reported that the incident involved both a handgun and a small AR-15 style rifle.

Late Night Ambush in Gas Station Parking Lot

The robbery took place at approximately 11:30 p.m. on June 4, 2025, at the RaceTrac gas station located at 8606 S. US Highway 1. According to deputies, the victims, who are minors, were in the parking lot filming social media content using cash they had recently withdrawn from a nearby automated teller machine (ATM).

Authorities stated that the suspects, identified as 18-year-olds Jaxon Diaz-Tubito and Josemanuel Brizei, drove up to the victims. Diaz-Tubito, who was operating the vehicle, signaled for the juveniles to approach. Once they were close, Diaz-Tubito brandished a semi-automatic handgun while Brizei exited the passenger side armed with a short, black AR-15 style rifle, demanding the cash.

Deputies Recover Weapons and Arrest Suspects

Following the heist, the suspects fled the scene. However, responding deputies quickly spotted the suspect vehicle. Law enforcement executed a traffic stop and successfully took both Diaz-Tubito and Brizei into custody without further incident.

A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded the semi-automatic handgun and the AR-15 style rifle used in the robbery. Both teens were booked into the county jail where they are currently being held without bond on charges of armed robbery and grand theft.