On December 1, at 8:01 p.m., an armed robbery was reported at the Express Food Mart on Princess Anne Street in Fredericksburg. According to police, the suspect initially entered the store to chat with an employee about various products before stepping outside briefly. When he returned, he pulled a firearm from his waistband and demanded cash.
The store clerk complied, handing over an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect then exited and got into the passenger seat of a red Chevy S-10 truck, which fled toward Route 1.
Officer Smith, the first responder, quickly reviewed the store’s surveillance footage. He noted another individual switching to the driver’s seat of the truck while the armed suspect was inside the store. Armed with detailed descriptions of both suspects and their getaway vehicle, Officer Smith issued a “be on the lookout” alert to neighboring jurisdictions.
Within minutes, Stafford County deputies spotted the truck and began a pursuit. During the chase, the passenger suspect fled on foot into a wooded area. Deputies detained the driver after the truck stopped and called in their K9 and drone teams to track the passenger.
The search paid off when Stafford’s drone team located the fleeing suspect in the woods, and their K9 unit moved in to apprehend him. Fredericksburg Police’s K9 unit also combed the area, recovering discarded evidence.
The suspects, identified as Dion Lamont Parker, 24, of District Heights, and Jermaine Koonce, 32, of Callao, were arrested and are being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. Charges have been filed in both Fredericksburg and Stafford.
Fredericksburg Police Chief Layton praised the joint effort, emphasizing the value of interagency cooperation. “We are grateful for the exceptional teamwork with the Stafford Sheriff’s Office. This partnership is vital to keeping our communities safe,” he said.
