January 28, 2008

Crime Solvers Seeks Suspect in Regional Robberies

National Capital Area Crime Solvers is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the man responsible for robbing employees of at least 17 gas stations in the region. Investigators from Fairfax County, Arlington County, the City of Alexandria and Prince William County believe the same suspect is responsible for all 17 incidents. A summary of these robberies follow:

• May 19, 2007 – Fairfax County: At 2:40 a.m., a man entered the Sunoco gas station at 6451 Edsall Road. He produced a handgun, jumped the counter and demanded money from the employee. The victim complied and the suspect fled the store.
   
• June 1, 2007 – Arlington County: At 4:51 a.m., a man entered the Exxon gas station at 2720 South Glebe Road. He brandished a handgun at the employee and took money and property. The suspect fled in a vehicle.
   
• June 11, 2007 – City of Alexandria: At 4 a.m., a man walked into the Shell gas station at 5740 Edsall Road. He brandished a handgun at the clerk and took money and property. The suspect fled in a vehicle.
   
• July 2, 2007 – Fairfax County: At 9:45 p.m., a man approached the employee of Hillbrook Auto Service & Gas store, located at 6701 Little River Turnpike. He produced a gun and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect fled the store.
   
• July 7, 2007 – Fairfax County: At 8:55 p.m., a man entered the Sunoco gas station at 7209 Little River Turnpike and approached the counter. When the employee turned around, the suspect pointed a handgun at him and demanded money. The suspect walked around the counter, took cash and fled the store.
   
• July 25, 2007 – Fairfax County: At 2:38 a.m., a man entered the Shell gas station, located at 8225 Gunston Corner Lane. He walked behind the counter, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect fled the store.
   
• August 17, 2007 – Fairfax County: At 11:12 p.m., a man entered the Sunoco gas station at 6381 Rolling Road and began shopping. He walked behind the counter, brandished a handgun at the employee and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect fled the store.
   
• August 24, 2007 – Fairfax County: At 12:15 a.m., a man walked into the Sunoco gas station, located at 6451 Edsall Road. He walked behind the counter, pointed a gun at the clerk and hit him in the leg. The suspect demanded money and the victim complied. The suspect again struck the victim on his backside and fled the store. The victim had minor injures that were treated at the scene.
   
• September 3, 2007 – Prince William County: A man entered the Sunoco gas station at 1320 Old Bridge Road around 4:30 a.m. and immediately walked behind the counter. He brandished a handgun and demanded money from the clerk. The victim complied and the suspect fled the store in a car.
   
• September 3, 2007 – Arlington County: At 6:35 a.m., a man entered the Shell gas station, located at 4211 Columbia Pike, with a handgun displayed. He demanded money and the employee complied. The suspect fled the store with the money.
   
• September 12, 2007 – Fairfax County: At 3:17 a.m., a man entered the Sunoco gas station at 6300 Little River Turnpike and approached the counter. The suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money from the clerk. The victim complied and the suspect fled the store with the money.
   
• September 14, 2007 – Fairfax County: At 11:55 p.m., a man entered the Exxon gas station at 6550 Edsall Road and walked behind the counter where the employee was standing. The suspect pointed a gun at the victim and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect fled the store.
   
• September 21, 2007 – Fairfax County: At 8 p.m., a man entered the Chevron gas station at 5580 Backlick Road with a gun displayed and walked behind the counter. The suspect demanded money from the employee and he complied. The suspect fled on foot.
   
• September 26, 2007 – Prince William County: At 8:08 a.m., a man entered the Texaco gas station at 14352 Gideon Drive with a gun. He yelled at the clerk, demanded money then ran behind the counter. The victim complied and the suspect fled the store.
   
• October 5, 2007 – Fairfax County: At 1:24 p.m., a man entered the Texaco gas station located at 7206 Little River Turnpike and walked to the counter. He brandished a gun from his pocket and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect fled the store in a car.
   
• October 5, 2007 – Prince William County: At 10:48 p.m., a man entered the Shell gas station at 13801 Jefferson Davis Highway brandishing a gun. He walked behind the counter and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect fled the store with the money.
   
• October 19, 2007 – Prince William County: A man entered the Sunoco gas station at 13495 Minnieville Road around 10:25 p.m. He chose a drink and walked to the counter. As the clerk began to ring the sale, the man brandished a gun and demanded money. The suspect walked behind the counter, took the money and fled the store.

In each robbery the suspect was described as black, in his late 20s. He was approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed about 200 pounds. He had a light complexion and a medium build. He was described as having brown eyes and black hair. His hair was worn in braids during some of the robberies. In most of the robberies he wore what appeared to be wire-framed, clear glasses. He used a dark-colored semi-automatic gun. In some of the robberies, a silver or gray, newer-model, four-door sedan was seen leaving the area.

Anyone with information on this suspect or any of the robberies is asked to contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 or via e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org

Fairfax County, Prince William County and Arlington County Crime Solvers are each offering cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment in these robberies.                                                                                                              

As always, callers never have to give their names or appear in court.