Suspect arrested in Nisqually convenience store robbery
A 23-year-old Nisqually Valley man was arrested Wednesday evening for his suspected role in a convenience store robbery less than 24 hours earlier. Thurston County Sheriff’s Office believes the man fired a gun at a store clerk during the incident.
Just after 4 a.m. Wednesday, video surveillance footage shows that two men wearing face coverings entered the ampm store on the 10200 block of Martin Way East while another man stood at the front door and a fourth stayed in a car parked outside, Lt. Ray Brady told The Olympian Wednesday.
The two men got into a confrontation with a store clerk, Brady said, which led to a physical fight between the clerk and suspects. One man was punching the clerk, while the other was hitting him with a handgun, Brady said.
As the clerk got away and ran toward the door, the suspect fired the handgun at him and missed, according to Brady.
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office believes the same men were involved in a theft that occurred shortly before that robbery, at another convenience store in the area, Brady said. Video from that incident helped deputies identify the suspect who allegedly fired the gun.
Deputies arrested the man on suspicion of first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm at a home on the 11100 block of Durgin Road Southeast about 6 p.m. Wednesday. Brady said deputies recovered a firearm they believe to be the one used in the robbery.
The Olympian does not identify suspects by name until they have appeared in court.
The Sheriff’s Office is still looking for the other suspects. The other man who entered the store was wearing a dark gray hooded sweatshirt with a red shirt underneath, red shoes, and blue jeans, Brady said. The suspects were in a light-colored Chevy Impala or Malibu from the mid to late 2000s.
Anyone with information is asked to call Thurston County 911 dispatch at 360-704-2749.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 8:56 AM.
.jpg)