ARREST JUST MADE AFTER SEPTEMBER ATTACK. CAUGHT ON CAMERA.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton man faces a felony robbery charge after he and an accomplice allegedly attacked and robbed a 63-year-old man who was sleeping next to his wheelchair. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office alleges Christopher Hickman and another man not only stole the victim’s cash and debit card but also smashed his face into the ground during the September incident, causing a facial laceration.
The attack occurred on the night of September 17th outside a Rayus Radiology in the West Boca Plaza on State Road 7. According to the arrest report, the victim had positioned himself on the sidewalk to sleep when two suspects approached him just after 8 p.m. Police say one suspect, identified as Gilbert Garza, threw a t-shirt over the victim’s head and held him down while searching his shorts. The second suspect, identified as Christopher Hickman, allegedly rummaged through the victim’s socks. The pair fled with $314 in cash and a Bank of America debit card.
The injured victim called 911 and was transported to West Boca Medical Center by fire rescue. Investigators responded to the scene and reviewed surveillance video from several businesses in the strip mall, where the suspects were reportedly seen for about an hour prior to the attack. An agent familiar with individuals in the area was able to positively identify both men from the footage.
Police identified the suspects by their distinctive tattoos, which were visible on camera. Garza was identified by “multiple unique facial tattoos,” while Hickman was identified by a “skull face” tattoo on his right bicep. Christopher Paul Hickman, 40, was arrested and charged with robbery with no firearm or weapon. Garza, 40, was named as a co-defendant.
