Man accused of armed robbery spree
A Masontown man accused of an armed robbery spree in three counties over the past week allegedly told investigators he needed the money to kill his pregnant ex-girlfriend and flee the state.
Stephen W. Gaza IV, 34, of 99 Central Ave., is accused of four robberies, including two Monday, in which police said each time he showed a black pellet gun and demanded money.
“He openly admitted that his motive behind the robberies was to obtain as much money as he could to flee the state after shooting his pregnant ex-girlfriend,” said Rostraver Township police Chief Greg Resetar, whose department investigated one of the crimes. “He had a rocky relationship and was planning to harm her.”
Gaza was caught Monday afternoon after state police said he robbed a Fayette County bank and led troopers on a car chase, according to court documents. He faces numerous charges and is being held at Fayette County jail on $100,000 bond.
State police said the robbery spree began June 7 when he asked for cigarettes from a cashier at the Kmart store in Uniontown and showed the weapon when the clerk returned. He allegedly told the cashier, “Give me the money and don’t tell anyone. I have to pay rent,” according to court documents. He left with $1,887 in cash, police said, although returned moments later to fetch the cigarettes he had left behind.
Resetar said Gaza confessed to his officers to robbing PNC Bank at the Tri-County Plaza in Rostraver about 3:20 p.m. last Thursday. Investigators filed robbery, theft and simple assault charges late Tuesday.
Resetar said Gaza did not tell them who his ex-girlfriend was or why he planned to harm her. He added investigators want to confirm the woman’s existence and speak to her if she can be located.
The robberies continued Monday when state police said Gaza admitted to them that he attempted to rob Huntington Bank on High Street in Morgantown, W.Va., about 1:40 p.m. He left when he received only a small amount of money, according to court documents. Morgantown police said they are continuing to investigate and charges are pending in that case.
About an hour later, police said Gaza went into United Bank near Uniontown, pulled a pistol from his pants, demanded cash from a bank teller and left with a “substantial amount” of money. A witness followed Gaza’s vehicle and notified authorities of his sport utility vehicle’s description and the direction he was heading, according to court documents.
Troopers chased Gaza along Route 21 near Uledi before he crashed his SUV into a cement wall, but continued driving west on the highway “at a high rate of speed” into Ronco. Police stopped the SUV near a natural gas well pad and found “a large amount” of cash and a black pellet gun on the passenger’s side floor. Gaza was taken back to the state police barracks in Uniontown, where he was questioned.
Police charged him with robbery, theft, terroristic threats, simple assault, reckless endangerment and fleeing police. District Judge Michael Metros arraigned Gaza and he remains in Fayette County jail on $100,000 bond. Court documents show Gaza also has an address listed in Williston, N.D.