Roanoke Gas Station Robbery Suspect Arrested Using Flock Tech

Xavier Shuntone Barlow, 35, charged with armed robbery after police used license plate readers to identify his vehicle.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:53pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a gun barrel or other crime-related physical evidence object lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.Surveillance technology played a key role in helping police apprehend a suspect in a recent armed robbery at a Roanoke gas station.Roanoke Today

A suspect accused of an armed robbery at a Roanoke, Virginia gas station on March 24 has been arrested. According to the Roanoke Police Department, the suspect entered the store, walked behind the counter, pulled out a gun, pointed it at the clerk, and demanded money. The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of cash, but no injuries were reported. Investigators used Flock Security's automated license plate readers to identify the suspect's vehicle, leading to the arrest of 35-year-old Xavier Shuntone Barlow on April 7 by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Why it matters

The use of Flock Security's license plate reader technology played a key role in helping police identify and apprehend the armed robbery suspect, highlighting how advanced surveillance tools are becoming an increasingly important part of law enforcement investigations, especially for crimes involving vehicles.

The details

According to the Roanoke Police Department, the armed robbery occurred around 8:30 p.m. on March 24 at a gas station in the 400 block of Walnut Avenue SE. The suspect entered the store, walked behind the counter, pulled out a gun, pointed it at the clerk, and demanded money. The suspect then left the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries were reported.

  • The armed robbery occurred around 8:30 p.m. on March 24, 2026.
  • The suspect, Xavier Shuntone Barlow, was arrested on April 7, 2026 by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The players

Roanoke Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that investigated the armed robbery and utilized Flock Security technology to identify the suspect's vehicle.

Xavier Shuntone Barlow

A 35-year-old Roanoke resident who was arrested and charged with armed robbery in connection with the March 24 gas station incident.

Flock Security

A company that provides automated license plate reader technology, which was used by the Roanoke Police Department to help identify the suspect's vehicle and aid in the investigation.

U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Task Force

The federal law enforcement agency that apprehended the armed robbery suspect, Xavier Shuntone Barlow, on April 7.

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What they’re saying

“The use of Flock Security technology played a critical role in helping us identify and apprehend the suspect in this armed robbery case.”

— Roanoke Police Department

What’s next

Barlow will appear in court in the coming weeks to face the armed robbery charges.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing role of advanced surveillance technologies, like automated license plate readers, in supporting law enforcement investigations and helping to quickly identify and apprehend suspects, even for serious crimes like armed robbery.