Sterling Robber Arrested, Leesburg Robber Still At Large: Police

STERLING, VA — A homeless man is behind bars and facing charges in connection with the attempted robbery on Friday, Sept. 13, of a Sterling gas station, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday. The Leesburg Police Department is investigating whether the man is connected to an attempted robbery a few hours earlier Friday at a cash-checking store.

The accused, Jedidiah M. Gauzza, 28, of no fixed address, was identified through a joint investigation by the Leesburg police and the sheriff’s office. He was taken into custody by the Leesburg police Friday evening and held on outstanding warrants from Loudoun and Fairfax counties, the sheriff's office said.

Gauzza was charged with attempted robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony by the sheriff's office in the Sterling robbery, and two counts of identity theft and one count of possession of cocaine by the Leesburg Police Department.

Gauzza is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

The attempted robbery Friday in Leesburg occurred at about 11:15 a.m., when a would-be robber entered Loudoun Checks Cashed in the 20 block of Plaza Street NE, and then fled.

The second attempted robbery occurred shortly after 1 p.m. Friday, when a robber entered the Sunoco gas station at 716 W. Church Road in Sterling, brandished a firearm and demanded cash. There were no reported injuries and nothing was taken in either incident.

The attempted robbery in Leesburg remains under investigation. The man who fled from Loudoun Checks Cashed is described as having a skinny build and wearing green pants and a green hooded sweatshirt.

The Leesburg police identified a second person of interest in the attempted robbery, describing him as a black man with a skinny build and wearing a white T-shirt and green pants.

Anyone with information or who can help identify either person is asked to contact Detective M. Kadric at the Leesburg Police Department at 703-771-4572 or at mkadric@leesburgva.gov.