Packet #802 - November 20, 2008Convenience Store Robbed at Gunpoint
M & K Grocery owner Ann Landers talks to friends outside the
store shortly after she was robbed at gunpoint Monday evening.
A male wearing a gorilla mask robbed the M & K Grocery on North McCrary Road Monday evening and escaped with an undetermined amount of cash.
The robbery occurred just before 8:00 p.m. when owner Ann Landers was in the store alone. She said that the robber entered the store wearing a gorilla mask and gloves and carrying a pistol. Her son and two friends had been in the store a short time earlier helping her stock the shelves, and when the man in the mask entered she at first thought that it was the taller of her son’s friends and told him to stop clowning around. The robber pointed the gun at Landers and demanded that she open the cash register and give him her money.
Landers said that the man pulled the trigger on the gun but that it did not discharge. After taking the money the robber ran behind the store and disappeared. The robber was wearing jeans and a dark hooded jacket. Landers could not say whether he was black or white.
Soon after police arrived a young couple who live nearby went to the scene and told police that they had seen a dark, older-model Buick parked on the east side of Gateway Shopping Center around the time of the robbery. They said the car was running and they thought it might have been a getaway vehicle. The shopping center lies about 250 yards west of the convenience store, across some open ground.
Landers bought the store about a month ago. It was formerly called the Quick & Easy Deli.
Police are still investigating the robbery, which does not appear to be connected to an armed robbery attempt at the Wonder Bread Store on Hwy 182 that occurred about 2 1/2 hours earlier.
Wendy’s on Hwy 45 Robbed as Employees
Clean up at 3:00 a.m.
Right: Officers Tommy Watkins, Lance Luckey
and Rick Jones confer outside of Wendy’s.
Three gunmen escaped with an undetermined amount of cash after robbing Wendy’s Restaurant on Hwy 45 North early last Friday morning. The restaurant had closed but several employees were still inside when the robbery occurred. Police questioned two suspects found nearby but neither was detained.
Police spokesman Cpl. Donnie Elkin said that the robbery was reported to E-911 at 2:55 a.m. He said that three black males wearing bandanas and sunglasses entered the store displaying guns, that one of the robbers went to the office and took an undetermined amount of cash and that the robbers left running behind the store.
The Packet has learned that the robbers entered the restaurant through a back door that opens into a walk-in cooler that is also accessible from inside the store. The Packet also received reports that the robbers were carrying a rifle or shotgun (or both) and that at least one shot was fired inside the store from a small-caliber weapon. At least one police officer was in the vicinity when the robbery was reported (but minutes can elapse between the time an incident is reported to E-911 and the time the news is relayed to officers in the field). Other officers raced to the scene, but the employees were unable to say where the robbers went or whether they were in a vehicle or on foot.
Soon after the robbery officers were informed that two males had walked across the parking lot to Wal-Mart about the time Wendy’s was robbed. The two had been sitting in a car in the Backyard Burgers parking lot and had then walked west to Wal-Mart when the battery on their car went dead and they were unable to start it. The car’s engine was still warm but the battery was almost dead. Police searched the area Wendy’s and from Wendy’s to Backyard Burgers, apparently for weapons that might have been tossed aside, but none was found. The two suspects were questioned at length and then allowed to leave.
The case is still under investigation and police are hoping that anyone with information will call Crimestoppers.
Young Gunman Strikes Out
A young male brandishing a handgun started to rob the Wonder Bread Store on Alabama St. Monday evening but left after being told there was no money in the store.
Police said that a store employee called 911 at 5:25 p.m. and said that a young male entered the store holding a handgun and demanding money. The employee told the robber there was no money in the store and the robber left, running behind the store.
The employee told police that the robber appeared to be 15-18 years old and was wearing khaki pants, a purple shirt and a red hooded sweatshirt. The robbery attempt occurred two hours before M & K Grocery was held up at gunpoint on McCary Road, just a half-mile from the Wonder Bread Store, but there appear to be no connections. The case is still under investigation.
Christmas Parade Dec. 6
This year’s Columbus Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 6, and will follow a new route through Downtown Columbus. The parade, long sponsored by the Pilot Club, is now sponsored by Main Street Columbus. This year’s parade theme is Christmas Traditions—all participants are asked to follow the theme when decorating their floats and cars.
The parade will move out at 5:00 p.m. A detailed parade route map can be obtained on-line at www.columbusmainstreet.com or at the Main Street Columbus office, located at 107 5th Street North.
Main Street Columbus Director Amber Murphee said that the deadline for parade applications is November 17. All planning to participate should return applications to the Main Street Columbus office by the deadline. Everyone is encouraged and invited to participate in the parade. The parade entry fees are the same as last year: $35 for non-profit organizations, walking groups, floats, beauty queens and personalities. The fee for businesses is $50.
"Several bands, floats, Santa Claus, Miz Claus and special characters have already signed up for the parade so this year promises to just as entertaining and successful as last year's Christmas Parade", said Murphree.
“Bobby Harper has been chosen as this year's Grand Marshall by the Christmas Parade committee because of his vast contributions to our community,” said Murphree. She said that Harper spearheaded the capital campaign for the Link's Trust and, “because of his esteemed reputation, they were able to surpass their $2 million goal.” She said that Harper “has served as a leader throughout the community and is very deserving of the honor of Grand Marshall.”
Murphree said that this year the parade will be broadcast on Cable Channel 3 and My MS Cable Channel 4 beginning following the parade (specific dates and times to be announced), and DVDs of the parade will also be available for purchase at the Main Street Columbus office beginning on Monday, December 15.
Parade sponsors are Tampico Bay, CS Digital Productions, CableOne, Comcast Spotlight, K 94.9, WCBI, My MS, Main Street Columbus and The City of Columbus.
