BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (WWJ) – Two men are in police custody after allegedly killing a man and injuring another during an armed robbery and carjacking at a convenience store in Monroe County Saturday afternoon.
The suspects, a 29-year-old from Monroe and 44-year-old from Ann Arbor, were arrested Saturday night after being spotted near Bowling Green, Ohio – about 50 miles down I-75 from Monroe.
It all started around 3:30 p.m. when Monroe police officers were called to the Highlander Market on Front Street on reports of a shooting and carjacking.
When officers showed up, they found a 31-year-old Monroe man and a 34-year-old man who had been shot. The suspects fled the scene in their blue Ford F-150, according to police officials.
The 31-year-old, identified as Ronald Beck, died of his injuries, while the other man was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
Authorities say the suspects went into the Highlander Market, pulled out a gun and robbed the store of an undisclosed amount of money. When they went outside, they ordered the victims out of the truck, which had been parked in front of the market.
One of the suspects fired a shot at a witness standing nearby. They were not hit. But when the victims got out of the truck, the suspects fired shots, hitting both of them, according to police.
Investigators were able to get surveillance images of the suspects from the scene and share them on social media. Tips from the public were able to help police identify both men and they notified other police agencies.
Around 7:40 p.m. Ohio State Highway Patrol spotted the stolen pickup at a rest area near Bowling Green. As troopers and deputies approached, the suspects took off heading south on I-75. When they tried to pull the truck over, they refused to stop and a chase ensued, according to police.
The suspects fired shots during the chase and troopers returned fire, but no troopers, deputies or officers were hit.
The chase continued on SB I-75 into Hancock County and the suspects eventually exited onto State Route 15. As the truck was approaching Township Road 240, it went off the right side of the roadway and hit a ditch, officials said.
Once the truck came to a stop, troopers began issuing verbal orders and, initially, the suspects refused to comply with orders to exit the vehicle. Eventually, the suspect driver, identified as a 29-year-old male from Monroe, was flown to the hospital with serious injuries.
The Patrol’s Special Response Team arrived on scene and was able to take the Ann Arbor man into custody, He was taken to an area hospital for precautionary reasons before being taken to the Hancock County Jail.
The suspects’ names are being withheld as police continue to investigate and until they are arraigned.
The Monroe Police Department says this was a “completely random, senseless act of violence” and the victims weren’t affiliated with the suspects in any way.
“Situations like this shake our community to the core and these acts of violence will, in no way, be tolerated,” a press release from the department said.
Multiple agencies assisted with the investigation, including the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Wood County Sheriff’s Office, Hancock, County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe Community Ambulance and Monroe Fire Department
“We mourn the loss of innocent life. The Monroe Police Department also thanks our brave community and citizens for providing vital information, which proved to be helpful in the eventual capture of these cowardly criminals,” officials said in a statement.
Officials are asking anyone with any additional information about the robbery, shooting, carjacking or other tips to contact the Monroe Police Department Detective Bureau at (734) 243-7500.
Anonymous calls can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.