A Manning man was taken into custody Sunday evening following a string of attempted armed robberies at multiple businesses across the city, according to Manning Police Chief Sean Briley.
Briley said the incidents were initially reported at the Stop and Go convenience store, formerly Savway, where the suspect entered the store with a scarf covering his face and kept his hand in his pocket as if he were armed.
“What the suspect didn’t know is the cashier did have a firearm and pulled it from behind the counter,” Briley said. The suspect fled the store without taking anything.
The suspect then went to Domino’s Pizza on Rigby Street and attempted a similar robbery using the same tactic, Briley said.
Police later received information that similar incidents occurred, though not reported, at T’s Express and Marathon convenience stores. Those incidents were subsequently confirmed by investigators.
The suspect was identified as Tyrone Shannon, 47, and was located and taken into custody near Seacoast Church with assistance from the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), Briley said.
After the Manning Police Department (MPD) notified CCSO, officers from both agencies canvassed the area. Coverage expanded to Rigby and Brooks Streets after calls were received by dispatch by Domino's employees. Officers later spotted the suspect across the street at Seacoast Church, which is currently under construction, and took him into custody, Briley said.
No injuries were reported in any of the incidents, and no shots were fired.
Briley said no weapon was recovered and investigators believe Shannon was pretending to have a firearm during the attempted robberies. He is believed to have acted alone.
No customers were reported inside the businesses during the incidents, Briley said, adding that investigators believe the suspect waited until customers had left before entering the stores.
Shannon will be charged with four counts of armed robbery. No additional charges are being considered at this time, according to Briley.
Briley said the department takes incidents of this nature seriously and credited cooperation between law enforcement and the community for the swift arrest.
“The Manning Police Department will not tolerate this type of behavior or violence,” Briley said. “If you participate in this type of behavior, we will use every resource we have to locate you and hold you accountable for your actions.”
He also thanked the community and the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.
“We can’t do this alone,” Briley said. “With the relationships we have with other agencies and our community, it sure is a bad time to be a criminal or gang member in our community. I suggest changing this behavior or finding somewhere else to go because it will not be tolerated here.”
The investigation remains ongoing. The Manning Times will update this story as more information becomes available.
