An armed robbery targeting tourists at Guam Premier Outlets is raising serious concerns about public safety and Guam’s image as a safe place to visit. Guam police say a family, including a pregnant woman and an 11-month-old baby, was held at gunpoint in broad daylight– turning a routine shopping stop into a traumatic ordeal. Two suspects are in custody, while a third suspect remains at large.

At the Tamuning mall — in the middle of a busy Friday afternoon — police say a family of Korean tourists was held at gunpoint just steps from the mall entrance. Authorities say the robbery happened in this parking lot, in broad daylight, with an infant inside the vehicle — a detail that is raising questions about Guam’s image as a safe destination. 

The Guam Police Department says the armed robbery happened around 3:30 in the afternoon. According to investigators, the family had just parked near the Ross entrance when a red SUV followed them into the lot.

As the driver opened his door, police say 34-year-old Jimmy Moses Hadley exited the SUV, pointed a firearm at the driver and demanded money from everyone inside. Police say a second suspect, 27-year-old Justin Willy, also approached the van with a firearm, taking cash, purses and other belongings, including items from a diaper bag. A third man remained in the SUV with a rifle visible across his lap.

Inside the vehicle were three men, two women, one of them pregnant, and an 11-month-old baby. No one was physically injured, but tourism oversight chair Senator Jesse Lujan, whose chief of staff spoke with the family at the precinct, say the family was traumatized. 

"They were of course very distraught– midday, pretty much, broad daylight at a shopping center," the senator said.

Within hours, police received an anonymous tip that led them to a home in Barrigada where Hadley and Willy were arrested, identified in a field line up by the victims, with Lujan saying, "The victims identified the culprits and they were arrested. To my understanding, the two of the individuals that were arrested have a long rap sheet."

Court documents state Hadley has a long list of prior arrests to include murder. Detectives noted he wore an ankle monitor, appeared intoxicated and yelled at officers: “I’m going to kill you guys.”  

Both men are now facing multiple felony charges including robbery, use of a deadly weapon, theft, terrorizing and child abuse. A third suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Jay Boi Elias, who remains at large.

In the meantime, the fact that the victims were tourists, including a pregnant mother and infant, is sparking concern over how this incident could impact Guam’s recovering tourism industry. "Of course, it’s a negative reflection of Guam," said Senator Lujan. "I’m hoping and praying it doesn’t."

"We don’t know, with social media, what’s going to happen with people even contemplating coming to Guam and how this may change their minds about coming to Guam. So there's going to be some negative effects with that."

Lujan says crimes like this can quickly shape how Guam is viewed off-island, especially when visitors expect to feel safe in populated shopping areas in broad daylight. He added, "All our efforts trying to bring back tourism to the island, this just gives, you know, steps back. How many steps back, I don’t know at this point. The great thing about it is these culprits were apprehended pretty fast."

In response, lujan says lawmakers are working to enhance legislation for vulnerable victims. "Any situation like this is not good at all. It’s a black eye. It’s a continuous black eye," he added.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and are asking anyone with information to contact Guam Police or Guam Crimestoppers. Hadley and Willy remain in custody at the Department of Corrections with cash bail set at $100,000 each.