3 suspects sought in pair of armed robberies in different counties

Three suspects in the armed robbery of a gas station in Calhoun County are being sought by the local sheriff's office and Crimestoppers.

The robbery ocurred at about 5:15 a.m. Jan. 6 at the Wilco-Hess Gas Station at 1600 Burke Road in St. Matthews, according to a news release. The trio also committed an earlier armed robbery at a Waffle House in Orangeburg, near the intersection of Interstate 26 and U.S. 301, before going to Calhoun County, according to a Crimestoppers news release Friday.

In both incidents, the men robbed truck drivers at gun point. The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office identified one of the black males as Derrick Lamont James Jr., who was seen in a photograph taken during the gas station robbery wearing a black hat and jacket with Chicago Bulls emblems. A black male in a camoflauge jacket, known as “Lil Man,” and the other black male, known as “Lil C,” wore black or dark-gray clothing and have not been further identified, according to the news release.

The suspects drove a dark gray, four-door, 1990s Honda Accord with the clear coat and paint chipping off the entire car.

Anyone with information about the suspects or the incident is encouraged to call Investigator Jimmy Orso of the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office at 803-874-2741. Anonymous tips also can be made to Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

A tip leading to the arrest could earn the informant a cash reward of up to $1,000.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 6:18 PM with the headline "3 suspects sought in pair of armed robberies in different counties."