2 arrested in string of robberies in Queens

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - The man wanted for shooting a Duane Reade manager and for the armed robbery of at least three stores in Queens was arrested Tuesday along with a second suspect, announced the NYPD.

The man approached the 49-year-old manager at about 3:25 a.m. Monday with a gun in his hand. When the manager shut the register, the suspect shot him in the left hand, said police. A brief struggle ensued and the suspect shot the man, again, only this time in the face. 

The victim was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition. The suspect fled the store at 60-02 Roosevelt Avenue.

Thirty minutes later, the suspect pretended to be a customer at the 7-11 at 50-92 Northern Boulevard. When the employee opened the cash register, the suspect threatened him with a gun and demanded money.  

At about 4:15 a.m., the suspect again pretended to be a customer and demanded money from the cash register at the Rite Aid at 33-01 30 Avenue. He fled the scene with the stolen money.

At about 5:42 a.m, the suspect demanded money from the employee at the register of the Rite Aid at 11-10 Merrick Boulevard. He fled the scene with the money.

The NYPD said the arrests were made in New York and out of state. A vehicle involved in the robberies was located and aided in the arrests, added police.

The armed suspect was described as a dark-skinned male, 17-25 years old, 5'8" tall with a medium build. He was wearing a black and green-hooded jacket, blue jeans, black and white gloves and white sneakers at the time of the robberies.

Anyone with information in regards to this robbery pattern is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. You can remain anonymous.