Robbery suspect armed, dangerous
Published 8:22 pm Thursday, April 21, 2016
A Montgomery man wanted for attempted murder of his girlfriend also is suspected in multiple armed robberies this week, including one in Troy, police say.
Troy police say Raymond Jerome Pruitt, 39, of Montgomery, robbed the Marathon Gas Station on U.S. 231 near the Days Inn around 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
“He entered the store wearing blue jeans and a red shirt with white writing on it,” said Troy Police Chief Randall Barr. “He walked behind the counter and produced a large silver and black handgun and demanded money from the clerk.
“Pruitt left the store on foot, walking towards the Days Inn.”
Barr said no other witnesses were in the store at the time and no one was injured.
Pruitt is believed to have left Troy and travelled to Ozark, where police say he robbed a Shell gas station near the intersection of Dees Road and Highway 231 at about 2:50 p.m.
According to an Ozark Police Department statement, officers recovered surveillance video that showed “a black male brandishing a handgun and demanding money from the clerk. The suspect left the scene on foot with an undetermined amount of cash.”
Pruitt is wanted on charges of robbery first degree in both cases.
And, according to Alabama Crime Stoppers, Pruitt is also the lead suspect in two other robberies this week as well as the assault and attempted murder of his girlfriend earlier this month.
The robberies took place Monday at a gas station in the 3000 block of McGehee Road and Thursday around 6:40 p.m. at a fast food restaurant in the 4000 block of the Atlanta Highway.
“The same silver and black handgun was used in these robberies,” said Tony Garrett of Central Alabama Crime Stoppers.
Garrett said Montgomery Police had issued warrants for Pruitt on charges of attempted murder, domestic violence first degree and theft of property first degree earlier this month.
“Investigators said Pruitt stabbed and shot at the victim on April 5,” Garrett said. “He also stole the victim’s vehicle after he attacked her.”
The victim was transported to a Montgomery hospital with life threatening injuries and the vehicle was recovered in the 5000 block of Carmichael Road.
“This isn’t the first time he has been wanted on these types of charges,” Garrett said.
“In May 2015, Pruitt was featured on Crime Stoppers for charges of domestic violence second degree. (In that case) Pruitt stabbed the victim multiple times during a verbal altercation.”
Barr warned that Pruitt is considered “armed and extremely dangerous.”
Anyone who sees Pruitt or knows where he is may be is asked to contact the Troy Police Department at 566-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).