Hagerstown man sought in armed robbery

June 05, 2008

Police were searching for a Hagerstown man suspected of shooting a dog during an armed robbery on Wakefield Road early Wednesday, Hagerstown Police said in a news release.

Randolph Thomas Johnson, 41, of 14554 Pennsylvania Ave. in Hagerstown, is believed to still be armed, Sgt. Paul Kifer said in a news release Thursday afternoon.

The incident began at about 12:41 a.m. when a man standing in the first block of Wakefield Road was approached by a man carrying a gun, Kifer said. The man told the victim to empty his pockets, struck the victim with the gun and began assaulting him, Kifer said.

The victim was able to get away and ran toward a house with the robber chasing him, Kifer said. When a man from the house came to the door, the robber pointed the gun at him, grabbed him by the front of the shirt and demanded money, Kifer said.

When the resident's dog approached them on the front porch, the robber fired one round, striking the dog in its left shoulder, near the neck, Kifer said.

The dog retreated into the house. The robber took cash from the victim and ran across the old Washington Street School parking lot towards Devonshire Road, Kifer said.

The dog was treated for a gunshot wound, Kifer said.

Witnesses identified the robber as Johnson, and an arrest warrant was obtained charging Johnson with two counts each of armed robbery, robbery, first-degree assault and second-degree assault, as well as one count each of carrying a handgun, using a handgun in commission of a felony, theft, and mutilating an animal, Kifer said.

Johnson, also known as Randolph Thomas McCrae-Bey, is black, about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs about 240 pounds, Kifer said.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts may contact the Hagerstown Police Department at 301-790-3700.

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