Detectives with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office are requesting the public’s help in identifying two suspects in two unsuccessful armed robberies, one of which sent a victim to the hospital.
Sheriff Eddie Hawkins told The Dispatch only one of the two suspects attempted to rob the two stores, while the other waited with a vehicle.
“Only one suspect entered the store, and only one suspect attempted to get into the other store,” Hawkins said. “He was wearing a mask, gloves, a hoodie (and) had what appeared to be a sawed off shotgun.”
Just before 10:30 p.m. Sunday, a man was waiting in his vehicle outside Dollar General located at 419 Lehmberg Road in Artesia for an employee to clock out. A masked suspect, armed with a shotgun, knocked on the car window, demanding the man leave his vehicle and get the employees to open the store door.
While the victim knocked on the Dollar General door, the suspect attempted to steal his vehicle to leave the scene. The car was having mechanical issues, according to a LCSO press release, and turned off as the suspect was backing up.
The suspect left the vehicle, running to a dark colored car that was waiting with another suspect on Hwy. 45 S. Alternate. The two suspects then fled north on the highway.
About 2 a.m. Monday, the same subject in a white mask attempted to rob the State Line Fuel Center located at 7803 Hwy. 182 E., still armed with a shotgun.
The suspect assaulted a worker at the gas station during the robbery, hitting them in the head with the shotgun. The suspect fled from the scene on foot, again without any money. The worker was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Hawkins requested anyone with information on the two suspects come forward and urged the public to be aware of their surroundings.
“If anybody has any knowledge of who this person might be, we need that information” he said. “We’re asking the public, especially (people) that work late at night at these Dollar General stores or convenience stores to be vigilant, be cautious of their surroundings.”
Anyone with any information is asked to call the LCSO at (662) 328-6788 or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at (800) 530-7151, or use the P3 smartphone app. Tipsters always remain anonymous, and tips that lead to an arrest are eligible for a cash reward.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 26 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
