DATE: Tuesday, September 30, 1997           TAG: 9709300240

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   33 lines

POLICE IN 2 STATES ARE SEARCHING FOR A POLITE GUNMAN

Police in two states are looking for a polite gunman who allegedly robbed a bookstore in the Holland Plaza shopping center over the weekend.

The suspect has been identified as Barry Maurice Thompson, 32, of the 1000 block of Blythewood Lane. Warrants are on file for Thompson in connection with the robbery of The Way Christian Bookstore Inc. in the 1200 block of Holland Road.

Thompson allegedly walked into the store, armed with a black metal handgun, about 11:50 a.m. Saturday and robbed two clerks of an undisclosed amount of money, said police Lt. W.M. Bunker, head of the detective bureau.

Thompson is charged with two counts each of armed robbery and abduction and four counts of using a firearm in a felony.

Police believe Thompson may have left the area, possibly heading for North Carolina. He has acquaintances in both Fayetteville and Winston-Salem, Bunker said.

Thompson should be considered armed and dangerous, Bunker said. He has an extensive criminal record in Virginia and North Carolina, including at least two convictions for escape, he said.

Thompson was described as black, 5-foot, 8-inches tall, 147 pounds, with light to medium skin, black hair in short dreadlocks, light facial hair and a scar over his left eyebrow. MEMO: Anyone with information about Thompson or any of the armed

robberies is asked to call Detective E.C. Harris at 925-6350 or Crime

Line at 539-1222.

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