JPD seeks help IDing armed robbery suspects

Jacksonville police have released new information in two separate recent armed robberies hoping the public will be able to identify two suspects and provide the location of another.

Two gunmen robbed the Expressway at 1261 Gum Branch Road on Monday. Surveillance stills released to the news media Wednesday show a young black man wearing a black mask, a dark blue jacket and a black hat with a gold dollar sign emblem pointing a shotgun at the store clerk. The other suspect is wearing a gray hooded winter coat and holding a semi-automatic handgun. 

"These suspects should be considered very dangerous," said Capt. Gary Dixon with the Jacksonville Police Department.

The clerk told investigators that one man took his wallet and watch while the other grabbed money from the register and several prepaid cell phones from the counter. The two men then moved the clerk to the beer cooler and told him to him to lay down and not move for 10 minutes, police said.

The suspects ran away toward the Plaza Manor area, Dixon said.

JPD detectives also identified the suspect in an armed robbery Saturday.

Kevin John Haywood, 17, of Liberty Drive, has an outstanding arrest warrant on file at the Onslow County Magistrates Office.

According to the warrant, Haywood entered Sol De Mexico Jewelers at 216 Brynn Marr Road, went up to a female employee and "pointed a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she did not give him the money."

After taking around $500 in cash, Haywood went out the back of the store and left the area on a black mountain bike, police said.

A second suspect - the alleged lookout - was taken into custody shortly after the robbery.

Terrell Gejuan Morton, 32, of Bell Fork Road, was charged Saturday with conspiracy to commit robbery. He was also served with outstanding warrants for assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill, discharging a firearm within the city limits and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Police say witnesses spotted Haywood and Morton together outside the jewelry store just prior to 9:40 a.m. when police say Haywood entered the store to commit the robbery.

He is being held in the Onslow County Jail in lieu of $55,000 bond.

Morton has previously been convicted in Onslow County of common law robbery, breaking and entering, larceny and assault, according to the N.C. Department of Correction. 

Crime Stoppers of Onslow County is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest or apprehension in either incident.

Anyone with information about either robbery can contact the Jacksonville/Onslow Crime Stoppers at 910-938-3273 or the JPD at 910-455-1472. Callers do not have to reveal their identities.

Contact crime reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.