Police in Newark request the public’s help identifying a suspect, who tried to rob a restaurant and a grocery store at gunpoint in the South Ward last week.
Police responded to a call about a robbery around 5:30 p.m. on February 21, 2022, at Roy’s Fish Fry Restaurant, located at 231 Lyons Avenue.
According to police, the cashier told officers that an unknown male walked into the restaurant demanding a plastic bag and that she put money in it from the register.
Police said the employee was unable to open the register – the cashier needed authorization from a coworker - the suspect showed her a black handgun.
The cashier ran to the back of the restaurant, and the suspect fled northbound on foot on Schuyler Avenue without getting any money.
Two days later, on February 23, 2022, the same suspect attempted to rob Briana Grocery Store at 11:15 p.m. at 214 Hawthorne Avenue.
When the officers arrived, an employee working the register told them that an unknown male grabbed a juice from the refrigerator and placed it on the counter.
After the cashier put the juice in the bag, the suspect pulled out a black handgun, demanded money from the register, and wanted to know where the safe was inside the store.
The employee placed $17 and a pack of cigarettes in the bag and told the suspect there wasn’t a store safe.
The suspect got startled and gave the cashier back the bag of money, cigarettes, and juice. He left the store headed westbound on foot on Hawthorne Avenue.
The suspect, a Black male, is approximately 5’9” to 5’11” and weighs about 220-240 pounds wearing a dark-colored sweatshirt with a hood, dark-colored cargo pants, black boots, and orange gloves.
Director O’Hara urges anyone with information about this suspect to call the Police Division’s 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477).