Maryland men arrested in alleged 3-county robbery spree

Police arrested two Maryland men early Wednesday for an alleged armed robbery spree that authorities say spanned three counties.

Rexford Enoch Prince-Wright, 23, and Elijah Sayon, 22, both of Hagerstown, face robbery charges in connection with four incidents early this week, according to Allegheny County Police Sgt. Todd Dolfi.

County police became involved early Tuesday after a man used a double-barrel shotgun to rob a convenience story on Steubenville Pike in Kennedy, Dolfi said. Employees told police the man, who had been wearing a backpack, moved the pack from his back to his front, pulled out the gun and demanded cash.

Investigators linked the incident to a Chrysler Pacifica with Maryland plates that allegedly had been involved in several other robberies, Dolfi said. Two of those happened Monday in Monessen and Rostraver in Westmoreland County.

Rostraver Police Chief Greg Resetar said a Marathon gas station on Route 51 near the Allegheny County border was robbed at gunpoint at 9:20 p.m. Monday. When officers reviewed surveillance video, they saw a man and woman come into the convenience store prior to the robbery.

When the pair left, a third person who was pumping gas in the Chrysler Pacifica came inside, he said. The suspect operated in the same way as the Kennedy Township robbery, Resetar said.

“He brandished what appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun from the backpack,” Resetar said. “He did point the firearm at (the clerk).”

The Monessen robbery happened shortly before the one in Rostraver. Monessen police could not be reached. Charges had not been filed in either of those robberies.

On Tuesday, police said, a man with a shotgun robbed a convenience store in New Eagle in Washington County.

County police, working with authorities in other jurisdictions, identified Prince-Wright and Sayon as the suspects. Resetar said Monessen police were able to get license plate information. Authorities arrested the men Wednesday in Swissvale, where they said they also found the Chrysler and a shotgun.

Anyone with information about the robberies can call the county police tip line at 833-255-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.