Police Identify Suspect In Citywide Armed Robbery Spree
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Police have identified one of the two suspects wanted in a string of armed robberies across the city.
Authorities say they're searching for 31-year-old Brandon McDonald of Brooklyn, who has at least six prior arrests for charges including robbery and weapons possession.
Now he's wanted in at least 13 new armed robberies across the city in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.
Police say McDonald is getting help from another man, and their robbery spree began on August 1 in Hamilton Heights.
In each case, the men approached the victims – ages 18 to 41 - displayed a gun and demanded their belongings.
"Still nothing has been done to prevent him from [doing this in the] future. That's scary," Greenwich Village resident Kelt Lee told CBS2.
"For me, it's New York City, you kind of expect it. It can happen anywhere," resident Christian Smith said.
Robert Romero works in Greenwhich Village, where police say the suspects held up three men in their 20s on August 17.
"Got here about 5:30 in the morning. There was the cops searching for someone, they couldn't find it," he said. "When you walk around here late at night, especially here in the morning when I come, you feel like afraid something [could] happen to you."
In the first incident, the suspects allegedly stole a red or burgundy Ford Mustang, which they used in several other robberies.
Police estimate the men have made off with a total of more than $60,000 in cash, cellphones and jewelry.
Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to call NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website, by Tweeting @NYPDTips or by texting a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577.
