THOMASVILLE, NC - A jewelry store robbery and shooting in Thomasville preceded a high speed chase where the suspects crashed on I-85 Tuesday.
Police say Avis' Fine Jewelry on Randolph Street was robbed and at least one person involved was armed. A witness who followed the suspects was shot after a confrontation. No employees were shot. Police arrested three people.
Robert Wayne Heath Jr., 21, David Edward Perry III, 19, and Donald Donell Chambers Jr., 21, all of Statesville, are facing charges of attempted murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and kidnapping. Other charges are pending.
Police say the witness, Kerry Chambers, had pulled into the parking lot of the jewelry store and saw the robbery suspects making their getaway on a moped. Chambers called 911 and began following them. Police say that's when Chambers saw the moped's back passenger take out a handgun and point it at him. Fearing for his life, Chambers hit the moped, knocking both suspects off. One suspect ran away on foot while the other picked up the gun and shot Chambers in the neck before taking off. Chambers is in stable condition at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Police in the area saw a man running to get into a white Hyundai and began to chase the car. During the chase, the driver jumped out of the car while it was still moving at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Border Street. The passenger then jumped into the driver's seat and the chase continued through Thomasville and into Lexington. The Hyundai crashed near the intersection of W. 8th Avenue and S. State Street in Lexington. The suspect was taken into custody.
During the police chase, other officers set up a perimeter to track the other suspect. A citizen pointed officers to an area where a suspicious person was seen. A K9 tracked to a vacant house on E. Holly Hill Road where a second suspect was taken into custody.
A third suspect was located by High Point Police on Surrett Drive. All three suspects were taken back to Thomasville to be booked.
Police originally thought a fourth suspect might be involved, but at this time, police believe there are no other suspects. Police recovered all jewelry that was stolen from the store.
East Davidson High School was briefly on lockdown during all this.
Note: Police say there is no relation between Donald Donell Chambers Jr. and the witness Kerry Chambers.
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