A 31-year-old man has been identified and charged in the slaying of a Centennial gas station clerk on Thanksgiving.

Samuel I. Birch was apprehended by law enforcement officials on Dec. 12 after being turned in by his girlfriend, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said.

He has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated robbery, according to online court records.

Law enforcement officials apprehend suspect accused of robbing and slaying Centennial gas station clerk

Birch’s aggravated robbery charges stems from an earlier robbery at a gas station at 10210 East Arapahoe Road on Nov. 26, according to the criminal affidavit. 

Investigators located video surveillance of a black Ford Fiesta with two distinct horizontal white marks that Birch was seen entering.

Birch’s girlfriend contacted investigators on Dec. 11 and stated Birch was the shooter, according to court records.

She told investigators that she recognized the shooters gray hooded sweatshirt with green lettering “No Pain, No Jane,” confirmed Birch wore glasses and drove a Ford Fiesta and he had left her apartment around the time of the shooting for several hours.

On Thanksgiving, Arapahoe County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a shooting at a Centennial gas station at 8236 S. Quebec St. shortly before 7 p.m.

When deputies arrived, they found Mauricio O. Perez, 24, lying behind the store counter with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Centennial gas station clerk fatally shot during robbery identified

Perez told deputies that the suspect was wearing a mask, but did not remember anything else, before law enforcement officials administered first aid. 

He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead during an emergency surgery.

Suspect sought in shooting, robbery of Centennial gas station clerk

A search was conducted by various law enforcement agencies, including Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Lone Tree Police Department, but were initially unsuccessful. 

A sheriff’s office spokesman said Birch’s girlfriend went to authorities after Birch told her about what happened.

Birch is scheduled to appear in court via video at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to online court records.