Cigarettes, Lottery Tickets and Cash: Police Ask for Help Finding Robbery Suspect

Howard County Police are offering a reward for information about a suspect who they say robbed a gas station of lottery tickets, cigarettes and cash.

According to police, the man entered the Shell station at 9108 Snowden River Parkway in Columbia on July 1 around 1:30 a.m. and showed a gun. He then assaulted an employee and, according to police, demanded cash.

The two employees gave the suspect money, and he fled, but not before also taking cigarettes and lottery tickets, according to police.  There were no customers in the store.

Officials say the suspect then stole one of the employee’s cars, a 2002 Oldsmobile Brevada.

Neither of the employees was seriously injured, police said, and the car was later found abandoned. 

Police describe the suspect as a black man, 35-40 years old, 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds. He was wearing blue jeans, white tennis shoes, a baseball cap, a gray shirt with “Police Explorer” written on the back, and a red bandanna covering his face. 

Police say they do not think the suspect is actually connected to any of the Police Explorer programs, which give kids an opportunity to learn about careers in law enforcement.

Police are offering a reward of up to $500 for information leading to and identification and the arrest of the suspect. If you have information, you may call 410-313-STOP. You may make the call anonymously.