Man accused of robbing New Kensington store, then asking for a job

A 20-year-old man is accused of demanding employees at a New Kensington Family Dollar store fill a bag with money, or give him a job, according to police.

Police charged Marcus Tyquan Walker of New Kensington with two felony counts of robbery. He was arraigned before District Judge Frank Pallone Jr. on Monday and sent to the Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Police responded to a reported armed robbery at the Family Dollar in Central City Plaza around 6 p.m. Sunday.

According to a criminal complaint against Walker, two employees told police that a man, later identified as Walker, came into the store, walked up to the counter and said “put the money in the bag.” The confused employees did not answer him.

The man then put his right hand in his coat pocket and said “maybe you didn’t hear me.” The employees believed the man did that to show he had a gun, and feared for their lives.

Police did not say in the complaint whether or not Walker actually had a weapon.

Walker allegedly told the employees he needed the money because he was having trouble taking care of his kids.

Walker then allegedly looked at one of the employees and told her to put the money in the bag or give him a job. The woman told him she was not the hiring manager and that he’d have to come back the next day. Walker then left the store.

An officer patrolling the area found a man fitting the robber’s description in front of Pallone’s office. He was taken into custody without incident, and identified as Walker.

As he was being taken into custody, police said Walker repeatedly stated that he was at Family Dollar, but that he was just going for a job.

Walker is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Pallone on Dec. 17.