THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996 TAG: 9601120489
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER AND LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
A routine drive-and-dash gasoline rip-off led to the arrest of four people charged with a Norfolk slaying, and may also have undone a prolific local crime spree, police said Thursday.
Virginia Beach and Norfolk detectives have spent several days rounding up suspects and unraveling a spate of crimes ranging from larceny to homicide after the suspects in the gas theft squealed on their accomplices, police said.
Investigators said they were stunned when, during questioning for a commonplace crime, the suspects gushed an unexpected tale of murder and conspiracy.
It all started Tuesday just before 3 p.m. when Virginia Beach Officer Ben Gonse stopped a car involved in a gasoline theft reported 30 minutes earlier. After checking with dispatchers, Gonse learned the car had been stolen from a Virginia Beach home Jan. 7.
He arrested the driver and passenger who, during questioning, led police to three Norfolk residents who were later charged with killing 40-year-old California resident Paul Robinson, who was shot in the chest Jan. 4 during an apparent robbery in the 3600 block of Elnora Ave. in Norfolk.
Norfolk police filed charges of murder, attempted robbery and firearms violations against the stolen car's passenger, 18-year-old Joseph L. Armstrong, of Philadelphia. Norfolk detectives filed the same charges against:
Kiwani L. Scott, 20, of Norfolk.
Pakistan A. Gary, 21, of Norfolk.
A 14-year-old Norfolk boy. He wasn't identified because of his age.
The driver of the stolen car, identified as Michael L. Johnson, 19, of Illinois, was charged with car theft and several related offenses.
Johnson and Armstrong are believed responsible for other Virginia Beach robberies, police spokesman Mike Carey said. Johnson is stationed aboard the Navy amphibious assault ship Saipan, and Armstrong is awaiting a medical discharge from the Navy because of a finger amputation, police said.
Carey and Norfolk police spokesman Larry Hill said other charges are pending against the group. Those charges could number more than 50 locally and in other states, Carey said.
KEYWORDS: ROBBERY MURDER AUTOMOBILE THEFT ARREST by CNB