A Richmond City man and woman have been arrested for the armed robbery of the Ladysmith Shell Station on Christmas Day. During the robbery, a female suspect displayed a handgun to a store employee and demanded that the employee fill a large bag with cartons of cigarettes.
The employee complied with the demands of the robbers and sustained no physical injury. The suspects ran from the store and drove away in a gray Dodge Journey. On December 27, 2021, Caroline authorities received several leads on the suspects. On January 5th, with the help of Richmond City Police, arrest warrants were obtained on 36-year old Shaneeka Dunkley of Richmond. Dunkley was charged with Armed Robbery and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. Dunkley was being held at the Richmond City Jail on unrelated charges and is currently being held without bond for the charges from Caroline.
On January 7, Caroline investigators obtained arrest warrants against the second suspect, 43 year-old Deron Crawford, of Richmond, for Armed Robbery and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. Caroline investigators then met with members of the Richmond City Police Department and the United States Marshals Service-Fugitive Task Force, for the purpose of arresting Crawford at his home in Richmond. After Crawford reportedly jumped from a second-story window and ran from the home in an attempt to flee from law enforcement, Crawford was taken into custody and is currently being held at Pamunkey Regional Jail without bond.
Sheriff Tony Lippa said, “I am so proud of the dedicated work of the men and women of our Caroline County Sheriff’s Office. I am grateful for the assistance of the Richmond City Police Department and the United States Marshals Service-Fugitive Task Force. Above all, I am thankful no physical injuries were reported on this Christmas day armed robbery. Thoughts and prayers of the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office are with the store employee who was forced to experience this traumatic event”.
