
DATE: Wednesday, May 14, 1997               TAG: 9705140501

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   82 lines

SUFFOLK POLICE CHARGE 2 IN SERIES OF SHOOTINGS, ROBBERIES

A Chesapeake man and a Suffolk teenager face at least 40 felony charges in connection with a string of robberies and shootings that occurred in Suffolk between November and April.

Antonio L. Brown, 21, of the 3900 block of Schooner Trail, Chesapeake, and a 16-year-old from the 600 block of Mason Ave. were arrested at different times on separate charges. By Tuesday, police had warrants for the added charges. Police said both were charged in connection with three robberies, including two in which employees were shot, and a planned robbery of a downtown drug store that they decided not to carry out because the store was crowded.

Brown also was connected to an earlier robbery and shooting at a gas station last fall, police said.

Lt. W.M. Bunker praised the work of detectives D.J. George and E.C. Harris in solving the robberies.

``These detectives have done an outstanding job . . . ,'' Bunker said. ``They have worked countless hours.''

The recent robberies and shootings frightened many local residents, Bunker said, but ``The citizens of Suffolk can breathe a little easier knowing the suspects are in jail.''

Brown was arrested Monday on Airline Boulevard by Chesapeake police and charged by Suffolk detectives with a robbery and shooting last fall at the Eastover Exxon gas station in the 800 block of Constance Road.

Brown is being held without bond in Western Tidewater Regional Jail.The juvenile was arrested at his home over the weekend during a search by detectives and members of the special investigations unit. He is being held in Tidewater Detention Home in Chesapeake.

The teen-ager is charged with shooting the clerk at the Holiday Food Store on April 23. The woman was shot in the face by a masked gunman who fired several times, police said.

Brown is charged with shooting an employee of Eastover Exxon gas station on Nov. 30 and the station manager in a separate robbery attempt at the station on April 26. In the April robbery, the suspects were dressed as women. Police are searching for the getaway driver.

Police said the pair are suspected of planning to rob Joseph P. Hall Drug Store in the 100 block of W. Washington St. on April 26 while dressed as women, but left because the store was too crowded.

Anyone with information about any of these cases is asked to call Suffolk Police at 925-6350 or Crime Line at 539-1222. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Antonio Brown

Graphic

THE INCIDENTS

Arrest warrants are on file in the following incidents:

Eastover Exxon, 800 block of Constance Road, April 26.

Both suspects will be charged with attempted armed robbery,

malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony

and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Antonio L. Brown also will be charged with possession of a

firearm by a convicted felon.

Planned robbery of Joseph P. Hall Drug Store, 100 block of W.