Tiburon man robbed at gunpoint; teen arrested

Note: This story was updated to include arrest information, as well as corrective information from police that they no longer believe any injury was sustained by gunfire and other details.

A Tiburon man was robbed at gunpoint outside his Tiburon Hill Estates home on Friday after being followed from a Strawberry Village ATM, police officials said. A Richmond teen, allegedly the getaway driver, has been arrested, while police are still searching for the gunman.

According to Tiburon Police Chief Michelle Jean and police spokesperson Laurie Nilsen, the victim withdrew money from the Bank of America ATM in Strawberry about 3:15 p.m. then drove home and parked in his carport near Janet Way and Andrew Drive, when a Kia pulled up and parked on the opposite side of the street.

The passenger of the Kia got out, showed his gun and reportedly fired a shot into the ground, saying “Let’s get serious” and other words the victim couldn’t recall, according to Jean and police logs.

Police officials said the man threw the $450 in cash from his wallet onto the ground, and the robber grabbed it and ran back to the Kia, which fled toward Highway 101.

Police put out a bulletin on the car and its license plate, which was spotted in Richmond by police there. Jean said Richmond police detained the driver.

The 17-year-old was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony robbery, felony accessory to a crime as a getaway driver and conspiracy to commit a crime, which may be prosecuted as a felony or misdemeanor. The recommended charges are being forwarded to the juvenile division of the Marin District Attorney’s Office, Jean said.

The Kia, a rental, was towed to the Marin County Sheriff's Office to be processed for fingerprints and other related evidence, while Jean said her department has video and pictures of the gunman that have been forwarded to Richmond police to aid in their search.

She said the brother of the arrested suspect was not the gunman and was not otherwise involved, despite reports by other media outlets.

Nilsen said police believe the victim was followed home from the ATM because he stopped at the Redwood Highway frontage road Chevron on the way, and security footage shows the Kia following him there.

Jean also corrected initial reports provided by the department, saying that while the victim had a cut on his knee, they no longer believe the injury was related to a gunshot or bullet fragment and that the man was not taken to the hospital for treatment.

Tiburon police advised residents to be aware of their surroundings, especially when visiting an ATM, and that if they believe they are being followed to call police and head directly to the police station.