Two Arrested in Connection with Armed Robbery and Assault at Jersey City Gas Station
Contact: Nathaniel Styer | Communications Director
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Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione | Public Safety Public Information Officer
[email protected]
Two Arrested in Connection with Armed Robbery and Assault at Jersey City Gas Station
JERSEY CITY, NJ – February 5, 2026 – The Jersey City Police Department announced today the arrest of two suspects in connection with an armed robbery and aggravated assault that occurred on December 25, 2025, at the Delta Gas Station located at 823 Tonnelle Avenue.
"This brazen act of violence on Christmas morning was an attack not just on two hardworking individuals, but on our entire community's sense of safety and security” said Mayor James Solomon. “I commend the outstanding work of our JCPD Cease Fire Unit, Criminal Warrant Squad, and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to bring these dangerous individuals to justice. While we are grateful these suspects are now off our streets, my thoughts remain with the victims who were traumatized during this violent robbery."
"Because of exceptional police work by the JCPD's Cease Fire Unit and our law enforcement partners, these two violent offenders are now behind bars and removed from our streets, where they can no longer endanger innocent people," said Acting Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.
On December 25, 2025, at approximately 3:16 a.m., Jersey City police officers responded to a call of an assault in progress at the gas station. Upon arrival, officers learned that an unknown male and female had approached a 42-year-old victim, demanded money, and punched him in the face. When the victim resisted, he was struck in the head with a pistol, causing him to lose consciousness. The suspects then stole cash and the victim's cell phone. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A second gas station employee, a 63-year-old male, exited the building during the robbery and was confronted by the female suspect, who pointed a handgun at him and demanded money. He complied and handed over cash. During the incident, two shots were fired before the suspects fled the scene.
The JCPD issued a statewide Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert and conducted an investigation that linked the December 25 incident to Jayden Goines and Carmen Martinez. The suspects were later connected to a similar armed robbery and aggravated assault at a gas station in Linden on January 14, 2026. Both suspects were found in possession of handguns reported stolen from Elizabeth, which were safely recovered by police.
Mr. Goines was arrested on January 30, 2026, and remains in custody. This morning, Ms. Martinez was arrested at her Union City home by the JCPD's Cease Fire Unit and Criminal Warrant Squad in partnership with the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force.
Jayden Goines, 21, of Newark, faces the following charges:
- Unlawful Purpose – Firearms (2C:39-4A)
- Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Handgun (2C:39-5B)
- Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Bodily Injury (2C:12-1B(2))
- Robbery – Bodily Injury (2C:15-1A(1)) (two counts)
- Conspiracy (2C:5-2A(1))
Carmen Martinez, 21, of Union City, faces the following charges:
- Robbery – Threat (2C:15-1A(2))
- Aggravated Assault with a Firearm (2C:12-1B(4)) (two counts)
- Conspiracy (2C:5-2A(1))
- Unlawful Purpose – Firearms (2C:39-4A)
- Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Handgun (2C:39-5B)