Robbery Ring Targeted Towson Business Owners, Twice: Police

TOWSON, MD — Four people have been charged in connection with robbing area business owners, according to the Baltimore County Police Department. Officials said that the robbers targeted the same victims in Towson twice.

Authorities said the victims were returning home to the 1700 block of Yakona Road after closing their restaurant when the suspects approached them with a handgun in front of their residence. The first robbery was Sept. 15.

Police allege the suspects returned to try to rob the victims a second time more than two months later. At 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 21, police said that one of the victims thwarted another attempt to rob him.

Three people approached the man as he was walking to his house in the 1700 block of Yakona Road when one of the suspects showed he had a gun, according to authorities.

The victim pulled out his shotgun, then suspects ran away, and nothing was taken.

There were six additional robberies tied to the group of suspects, who allegedly struck in the Parkville and Perry Hall areas.

Authorities said that a collaborative investigation led them to identify the suspects in the business owner robbery ring as the following Baltimoreans:

• Anthony Milton King, Jr., 31, of the 2900 block of Woodland Avenue
• Antonio Larry Jr., 30, of the 1600 block of Riggs Avenue
• Brekwan Kareem McFadden, 16, of the 700 block of Wyanoak Avenue
• Melvin Norong Thompson, 17, of the 700 block of Wyanoak Avenue

All are being held without bail except for Thompson, who was released on his own recognizance, police said. Based on the charges, it does not appear Thompson was connected to the Yakona Road incidents.

Officers are working to determine whether the group may be tied to robberies in other jurisdictions as well.

Police said King was arrested Nov. 27. He was handed down a 93-count indictment on Monday, Dec. 4, according to court records.

• Among the charges, 16 of them stemmed from the Sept. 15 incident: three counts of armed robbery; two counts of robbery; four counts of first-degree assault; two counts of theft from $1,000 to $10,000; conspiracy to commit armed robbery; and four counts of using a firearm in a felony crime.
• In the Nov. 21 robbery attempt, King was indicted on five charges: attempted robbery; first-degree assault; attempted theft less than $100; using a firearm in a felony crime; and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Larry was issued a 96-count indictment on Dec. 4 as well.

• Among the charges were 14 stemming from the Sept. 15 incident: two counts of armed robbery, two counts of robbery; four counts of first-degree assault; theft from $1,000 to $10,000; four counts of using a firearm in a felony crime; and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
• In the Nov. 21 robbery attempt, Larry was indicted on the following nine charges: attempted armed robbery; two counts of attempted robbery; two counts of first-degree assault; attempted left less than $100; two counts of using a firearm in a felony crime; and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

McFadden was handed down a 98-count indictment on Monday, Dec. 4.

• Of those, 16 stemmed from the Sept. 15 robbery: two counts of armed robbery; two counts of robbery; four counts of first-degree assault; two counts of theft from $1,000 to $10,000; four counts of using a firearm in a felony; possession of a firearm by someone under 21; conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
• Of those seven stemmed from the Nov. 21 robbery attempt: two counts of attempted robbery; first-degree assault; attempted theft less than $100; attempting to use a firearm in a felony crime; possession of a firearm by someone under 21; and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Thompson faces 13 charges related to a Nov. 17 case that involved a carjacking.

Booking photos courtesy of the Baltimore County Police Department.