Suspect Charged After Series Of Armed Robberies At Tuscaloosa Family Dollar Store

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa Police Department says it has arrested a man suspected of multiple armed robberies in the city over the last year.

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In a press release on Friday, TPD said Irish Tyshawn Hunter, 31, was arrested on Thursday and charged with two charges of first-degree robbery of the same Family Dollar store. He is currently being held at the Tuscaloosa County Jail with no bond set.

What's more, TPD explained that investigators are looking into whether Hunter is responsible for other robberies at the store on May 4, May 13 and Dec. 5, 2021, in addition to another robbery on Jan. 14, 2022.

On Thursday, TPD officers responded to a call of a robbery in progress at the Family Dollar located at 524 14th Street, around 8:30 p.m.

The masked man reportedly entered the store near closing time, before telling an employee that he had a gun hidden under his clothing.

After the suspect demanded money, an employee of the store noticed that the gun, upon closer inspection, actually appeared to be a drill.

This resulted in the employee confronting the suspect as he left the store, which turned into a brief physical struggle that saw the suspect drop the drill and some cash before running from the scene.

TPD said on Friday that an investigator working the previous robbery cases had identified Hunter as a possible suspect, which led officers to his residence. There, police discovered some of the cash taken in the robbery Hunter was booked into custody.

Hunter's charges are related to the robbery on Thursday and another on Jan. 14. In the previous cases, Family Dollar employees told police that the masked suspect appeared to be brandishing a power drill wrapped in clothing to make it look like a pistol.

TPD said charges against Hunter are expected.

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