FBI Offers $5K Reward for Bowie Armed Robbery, 6 Other Holdups

BOWIE, MD — Federal authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of an armed man suspected of robbing gas stations and convenience stores in Bowie, College Park, and Alexandria, VA, including three holdups on the same day this week.

The suspect in the string of holdups is described as a black man, about 5’10” tall, between 40 and 50 years old, with a medium complexion and a black and gray colored beard. The FBI says the robberies began Oct. 18, 2015, at the Exxon gas station at 501 S. Van Dorn St. in Alexandria, VA. A day later, the armed suspect held up a 7-Eleven store in College Park and a Shell gas station in Bowie.

The 7-Eleven store at 8905 Rhode Island Ave. in College Park was robbed about 1:12 a.m. on Oct. 19, 2015. An FBI release says the man entered the store, approached the counter, and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. He then fled the area in a silver or light blue sedan. The suspect had a weapon and wore a dark-colored coat over a gray, hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black glasses, and a black baseball cap with an orange brim.

About six hours later, investigators say the suspect, armed with a handgun, robbed the Shell station at 13811 Annapolis Road in Bowie. He took an undisclosed amount of cash and then fled the area in a silver sedan. Witnesses said the robber wore a dark-colored jacket over a gray, hooded sweatshirt, dark-colored pants, and glasses.

Subsequent robberies the FBI believes were committed by the man were reported Sept. 4, 2016, at the Exxon gas station at 501 S. Van Dorn St. in Alexandria, VA; on Sept. 6 at the CVS store at 6200 Central Avenue in Seat Pleasant; also on Sept. 6 at the Exxon gas station at 3535 Connecticut Ave. NW in Washington, DC; and a third robbery on Sept. 6 at the Sunoco gas station at 1830 Fort Myer Drive in Arlington.

According to the FBI, the serial robber should be considered armed and dangerous.

To submit a tip, call the Washington Field Office of the FBI at 202-278-2000, the Prince George’s County CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or the Prince George’s County Police Department CID-Robbery Unit at 301-772-4905. Anonymous information may be submitted to Metro Police Department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

»Surveillance image of Bowie armed robber, wanted poster, courtesy of the FBI