Robbery suspect pepper sprays cashier, flees with cash

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - The Richmond Police Department is searching for a man who robbed a Northside convenience store Tuesday morning.

Police say the suspected entered the store in the 1400 block of Chamberlayne Avenue around 7:15 a.m. and browsed several items.

He approached the cashier, placed candy on the counter and proceeded to pay with a $1 bill.

When the cashier opened the cash register, the suspect sprayed him with pepper spray. The suspect then reached into the open cash drawer and took money, including the $1 bill he used to pay for the candy.

The suspect then took off running on High Street toward Fritz Street.

Police say the suspect is a black man age 20-30 with brown eyes and short, dark facial hair. He's about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs between 140 and 150 pounds. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a burgundy coat, dark jeans, white and black shoes and a black skull cap.

"[He] Had no mask, no gloves…wanted to get caught."

That's coming from the man who called police. He asked not to be identified.

He says he knew something was wrong when he tried to grab snacks before he headed in to work at his job nearby.

"It was weird and something wasn't right. Why would you jut out of a store so fast."

He says he's not going to stop shopping at this store.

"They've got cameras, that's what the cameras are for. It should deter people not to do anything. It's close to the holidays, people are desperate for money, but still that's no way to do it."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.

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