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Trenton couple held at gunpoint during early morning burglary

web posted April 20, 2007
BELOW: ECSO Investigator Smith takes fingerprints from the stolen car
TRENTON – An elderly Trenton couple was held at gunpoint in their home on the 2500 block of Edgefield Road early Friday morning while two men robbed them of guns, cash, and a 2003 Mercury Sable automobile. The incident took place around 1am. Shortly after 6am Sheriff’s Deputies spotted the stolen car and gave pursuit until the car crashed and the two men ran off into the woods on Knight Lane, just off Community Road near Bettis Academy.

The elderly man told deputies he was asleep in his recliner when he was awoken by the two men entering the home. The men were able to wrestle a gun away from the elderly gentleman. The men, described as black males, approximately 6 foot tall with slender builds, were wearing white gloves and one had a white cloth across his face. The two demanded the man open a large gun safe that was located in the house. The man’s wife awoke and was also held at gunpoint. At one point during the robbery one of the men fired a shot into the wall while demanding the couple comply with their demands.

The elderly man told the two men they did not want to shoot him because they did not want a murder charge against them. One of the men reportedly replied he already had a murder charge against him and again demanded the couple to comply with their demands, police reports show.

At first the elderly man gave the two men the wrong combination to the safe and the men threatened to kill the elderly woman. At that point the man opened the safe and the men allegedly took several guns, around 3,500 rounds of ammunition, and an undisclosed amount of cash.

The couple was then taken to two separate rooms directly across from each other and the doors were tied together with a lamp cord. The two men took the keys to a gold 2003 Mercury Sable belonging to the couple and used it in their escape from the scene. The couple was eventually able to free themselves and drove to a family member’s house in Trenton to call 911. 

Deputies arrived and cleared the home then allowing the couple back inside. The scene was processed and photographed for evidence by investigators. No fingerprints were obtained at the home due to the two men wearing gloves. Police were on the scene until just before 6 am.

After one of the investigators left the scene he was traveling north on Highway 25 when he spotted the Mercury traveling south and turned around in an effort to stop the car. At that time the car sped off and the deputy gave pursuit. The high-speed chase lasted only a few minutes and at one point the men were able to lose officers by turning off Highway 25 onto Community Road and then onto Knight Lane before crashing the car and escaping on foot.

The Edgefield County Sheriff’s Bloodhound Team was called to the scene as deputies began setting up a perimeter in the area to try to contain the two wanted men. Several deputies were stationed along Highway 25 between Rainbow Falls Road and Bettis Academy Road in case the men tried to cross the highway. Several off-duty deputies were called in to assist in manhunt.

Two of the stolen guns were recovered at the site of the crash, one being found inside the car and a second found lying not far away near the footprints leading away from the scene. Several guns are still missing and have been placed with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

The search for the men continued well into the midmorning hours before being called off around 10 am.

The elderly couple was shaken by the event but was otherwise unharmed. The 80 year-old man told investigators if he were just a little faster he would have shot at least one of the two men. Early in the struggle the elderly man bit the finger of one of the robbers when the hand was placed over his mouth. It is unknown if the bite injured the attacker.

The Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the two men who are only described as black males about 6 feet tall and having a slender build. They are considered to be armed. If you have any information concerning the two men you are asked to call the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office at 803-637-5337 or 803-278-1625. You do not have to give your name to provide information.
  

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