Columbia man arrested after series of armed robberies at convenience stores
A Columbia man is behind bars after law enforcement officers said he used a weapon to rob multiple convenience stores in the past month, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.
Deaundrey McDonald, 26, was charged with three counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, two counts of pointing and presenting a firearm, strong armed robbery, and purse-snatching, the sheriff’s department said in a news release. McDonald is a Columbia resident, Richland County court records show.
Bond was denied on all nine charges and has not been set on an additional shoplifting charge filed against McDonald by the sheriff’s department, jail records show.
McDonald was charged in connection with robberies at three Circle K stores and one Spinx store in late August and early September, the sheriff’s department said. Multiple cartons of cigarettes were taken during each incident, according to the release.
One of the robberies happened Aug. 30 in the Circle K at 90 Clemson Road, the sheriff’s department said. That’s near the Blue Cross Blue Shield campus and the junction with Interstate 20.
After bringing items to the counter and asking for four cartons of cigarettes, McDonald grabbed three of them and ran out of the convenience store, investigators said. The clerk chased and caught up outside, and while he was being held in a headlock, McDonald told the clerk he had a gun and would shoot, prompting the clerk to let McDonald get away, the sheriff’s department said.
Late at night last Friday, McDonald was arrested without incident and taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, according to the release.
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This story was originally published September 21, 2020 at 2:06 PM.
