Local Radar

Man sought in armed robbery, intent to kill arrested
web posted December 20, 2005

JOHNSTON – Johnston Police have arrested the alleged ring leader in a November 28, 2005 armed robbery of a home in Johnston which left one man shot during the crime. Two days later Johnston Police arrested a juvenile and a Johnston man and were searching for at least four others. More arrests came in early December but the one they wanted the most seemed to be elusive, until Friday night.

A call was made to the E911 operators around 11:00 pm on Monday, November 28 that several people were outside a 200 block Johnson Street home with guns. Shortly afterwards another call came in of the robbery and one man being shot. Johnston Police Officer Lamaz Robinson was the first on the scene and requested back-up and an ambulance.

The owner of the home and two other men were watching a football game when there was a knock at the door. When the door was opened several men rushed in and a shot was fired into the wall as orders for the three men to get down on the floor were yelled. The men complied and were robbed of their wallets and jewelry. As the group made their way to the back door the men rushed one of the suspects and in the struggle a shot was fired which hit one of the victims in the hip. They were successful in taking a gun away from one of the suspects.

Two days later Johnston Police arrested Randy Michael Coleman Jr., 18, of Johnston and a juvenile who was not identified due to his age. Evidence collected led to the arrests of Corey Laboo, 18 of Columbia and Tyler Fitzgerald Brooks, 22, of Johnston on December 8. But the alleged ringleader, twenty four year old Durante Bush, stayed elusive and was successful in evading capture. His luck ran out Friday night when Johnston Police took Mr. Bush, who is also a registered sex offender, into custody without incident.

Sources indicated a warrant for a wire-tap was sought in the man-hunt for Mr. Bush. It was not known if information obtained from that warrant led to the arrest.

All of those arrested in the case face charges of armed robbery, burglary in the first degree, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and assault and battery with intent to kill, all felonies. All of the men are being held at the Edgefield Detention Center on bond and have not been released. The juvenile is being held at the Youth Detention Center in Columbia on the same charges we are told.

More arrests could still be possible in the case.
 

Featured Dining

Little Mexico

Special Sneak Peek invite and Review

Sportsman's B-B-Q
Breakfast Buffet $5.95
Thursday - Sat urday
5 am - 10 am