A violent armed robbery on Whidbey Island may have been solved thanks to the suspect’s mother.

Chance Gill, the 18-year-old Oak Harbor man accused in the crime, which happened at a convenience store, made his first appearance in court Wednesday.

The robbery was caught on surveillance cameras, and police immediately released part of the video to newspapers in the area. Several details in those videos caught the attention of the suspect’s mother, police said.

The video showed a man holding two workers at gunpoint two weeks ago. He ran out of the store with cigarettes, a soda and about $200 in cash, police said.

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The video also showed the robber wearing a distinctive pair of white sunglasses. According to court documents, an anonymous caller who saw a clip of the video told police those were the same glasses Gill is wearing in a Facebook photo.

Police said they were following up on the tip when they got another call Tuesday from Gill’s mother. She said she found a backpack, sunglasses and a gun in his room.

Heidi Moran, whose brother was one of the two held up, said it was hard to watch the video.

“Thank God he wasn’t shot,” she said.

In court Wednesday, Gill faced one count of first-degree robbery.

“There are a lot of aspects of this case that give the state serious concerns about Mr. Gill,” prosecutor David Carman said.

Carrie Sanders, Gill’s aunt, told the judge Gill has no criminal history but does have a drug problem and recently started rehab.

“He has a mother and extended family here that support him,” Sanders said.

Police arrested Gill at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting Tuesday night.

Moran said she has kids of her own and said Gill’s mother must have struggled to make the call to police. But Moran said she wanted to tell Gill’s mother one thing.

“Thank you,” Moran said. “Oh my goodness. She found the gun and everything. That must have blown her mind. He’s 18 years old.”

Gill’s relatives were visibly shaken up after his court appearance.

His bail has been set at $100,000.