Alexandria Robbery With Employee Shot In Leg, Other DC Area Crimes Lead To Charges

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A robbery in Alexandria that left a convenience store employee with a gunshot wound and other alleged crimes have led to charges for a Washington, D.C. man.

The charges against Shamell Joyner, 35, of DC, were filed in DC federal court for an alleged armed carjacking and eight alleged armed robberies between April 12 and May 2 in the DC area.

One of these incidents was an April 17 robbery of the 7-Eleven in the 3000 block of Duke Street. ALX Now reported an employee suffered a gunshot wound in the leg as the suspect made off with cash from the register. Police said the injuries were non-life-threatening.

Prosecutors say the suspect allegedly committed an armed carjacking on April 13 in DC's Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood and used the car in future armed robberies. On May 2, the suspect allegedly stole a gas station employee's car in Hanover, which is in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Several other armed robbery incidents were reported in Northwest and Northeast DC locations. According to the complaint, Joyner was armed in all the incidents.

Metropolitan Police arrested Joyner later that day after observing the stolen vehicle in Southeast DC, according to court documents. A gun was recovered from the vehicle.

In DC, Joyner was charged with six counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, six counts of using, carrying and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of interstate transportation of stolen vehicles, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted person, and one count of armed carjacking.

Potential sentences vary by charge. The six counts of using, carrying and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence have a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The carjacking charge has a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.