A man accused in an Egg Harbor Township armed robbery attempt that captured attention on social media in January was ordered held in jail this week.
Brandon Gonzales, 21, was arrested earlier this month in the Jan. 21 incident in which a doorbell camera captured the confrontation between a gun-wielding man and the victim.
In the video, the victim is seen being followed by a man pointing a gun at him. The victim then breaks his own window before turning to confront the startled gunman.
The two then exchange words before the gunman takes off and gets into a car, which fled toward Dorset Avenue.
A semi-automatic pistol was found on a nearby lawn, with the serial number defaced, according to the affidavit of probable cause. It is not clear if it was loaded.
The Ring.com video quickly made the rounds on Facebook, sparking several tips from the public, including Gonzales' relatives and co-workers, the affidavit states.
One man told police that the day before the robbery, Gonzales had asked for a ride to robberies, offering a 50-50 split of the proceeds.
The affidavit also gives more insight into what was said in the video.
"Walk into the crib, bro. I don't want to have to blast you, dog," the suspect says. "I know what you got. I need it."
"I don't got anything," the victim responds.
The suspect also says he is going to follow the victim inside and "load up one bag then leave," the affidavit states.
The state's theory is that the victim and Gonzales had previous marijuana distribution dealings, and that Gonzales came to rob the victim, Assistant Prosecutor Lloyd Henderson told the judge Wednesday.
But the victim told BreakingAC that he had never seen the gunman before and did not know why he was targeted.
The victim worked at the township's medical marijuana dispensary by day, and then dealt the non-medical version of the drug from his home while off the clock, defense attorney Mary Linehan said during the hearing.
The victim denied those accusations, saying he has a card and only had legal medical marijuana in his home, which he told police at the time.
Linehan claimed the victim was on "a two- to three-week sabbatical" from dealing worried after a township man was killed Jan. 3.
That killing has not been solved.
Henderson seemed confused as to why the homicide was even brought up.
Gonzales now will stay in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending the outcome of the case.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include input from the victim.
