Fredericksburg Police and Stafford Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested and charged two men in connection with an armed robbery Sunday night.
On December 1, at approximately 8:01 p.m., the Fredericksburg Police Department E-911 Center received a call reporting an armed robbery at the Express Food Mart located at 2010 Princess Anne Street.
When FPD Officer Smith arrived at the store, an employee informed him that the suspect had entered the business, discussed various products, walked outside to speak with someone, and then returned to the store. As the suspect re-entered, he pulled a firearm from his waistband and demanded money from the employee. The store clerk gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of cash from the register. The suspect exited the store and got in the passenger side of a red Chevy S-10 truck, driving toward Route 1.
While reviewing video footage, Smith observed another suspect exit the Chevy truck and enter on the driver’s side while the first suspect was in the store. Smith obtained clear descriptions of both suspects and the vehicle and sent a “be on the lookout” alert to neighboring jurisdictions. Officers established a perimeter and began monitoring exit routes out of the city. Shortly after the alert was issued, Stafford deputies spotted a red truck matching the description of the suspect vehicle.
Stafford sheriff’s deputies initiated a vehicle pursuit. During the chase, the passenger suspect fled the vehicle on foot. After the truck came to a stop, deputies detained the driver while additional deputies, along with Stafford and Fredericksburg K-9 teams, began searching the area where the passenger had fled.
Stafford’s drone team located the suspect in a wooded area and the K-9 team apprehended him. Officer Murphy and K-9 Raider searched the wooded area to collect evidence the suspect had discarded.
Both suspects were taken into custody and are currently being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. Dion Lamont Parker, 24, of District Heights, and Jermaine Koonce, 32, of Callao, were arrested on charges through the Fredericksburg Police Department; additional charges were filed by the Stafford Sheriff’s Office.
