News Releases

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division have arrested and charged William T. Thompson, age 23, of the 600 block of Pebble Beach Drive in Silver Spring, with armed robbery and firearm-related offenses related to the August 9 robbery of a 7-Eleven convenience store in Cloverly and the August 10 robbery of a beer and wine store in the Colesville area.

A summary of the armed robberies follows:

Friday, August 9 at approximately 12:09 a.m., at the 7-Eleven located at 15539 New Hampshire Avenue. The suspect entered the store with his face concealed and armed with a rifle. The suspect threatened an employee and demanded cash. The suspect obtained currency from the business and fled in a dark-colored sedan.

Saturday, August 10 at approximately 3:00 p.m., at the Hollywood Beer & Wine store located at 12703 New Hampshire Avenue. The suspect entered the business with his face concealed and armed with a rifle. The suspect threatened an employee and demanded cash. The suspect obtained currency from the business and fled in a blue sedan.

At approximately 6:40 that evening (August 10), 4^th District officers responded to the 15300 block of Hannans Way in the Norbeck area for the report of a blue sedan that had struck a mailbox and then fled the area. A resident who had observed the collision called 9-1-1 after locating the occupied sedan disabled on the side of Carrolton Road.

Responding officers identified Thompson as the driver of the vehicle and immediately detected an odor of marijuana coming from Thompson and from inside the car. During a search of Thompson, officers located an empty handgun holster on his belt and currency in his pants pocket. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a loaded handgun, a loaded rifle, a black ski mask, and gloves.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video from both robberies and determined that Thompson matched the suspect description provided by witnesses and that the rifle matched the description of the weapon used in both crimes.

Thompson was arrested and transported the Central Processing Unit where he was charged with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of the use of a firearm during the commission of a violent felony, and one count of possession of a handgun in a vehicle. Thompson is currently being held without bond.

RLG