Suspect Named In Store Clerk’s Murder; Reward Offered

April 29, 2016

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[UPDATED} The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has named a suspect in the shooting death of a store owner Tuesday night.

Investigators are searching for 39-year old Raymond Jerome Pruitt. He now has an active arrest warrant for the robbery of A&E Food Mart and homicide of of store owner Chung Lun Chiang also known as “Alan”. He was last seen driving a light colored Hyundai Tucson.

Investigators say Pruitt robbed the A&E Food Mart on Pace Boulevard about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. During the robbery, he shot and killed Chiang, 53, as he worked behind the counter.

Pruitt’s crime spree began on April 5 in Montgomery when he stabbed his girlfriend and shot her with her own pistol as she tried to escape. Pruitt has since been identified as the prime suspect in five armed robberies occurring in Montgomery, Ozark, Troy, and Prattville, AL.

Raymond Pruitt is 5-foot-3 weighing approximately 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Authorities advice if you see Pruitt, do not approach him; he is considered armed and dangerous. Instead, call 911. Anyone with information on Pruitt’s whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.

The U.S. Marshals are offering a reward up to $10,000 and Central Alabama Crime Stoppers are providing $1,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Comments

10 Responses to “Suspect Named In Store Clerk’s Murder; Reward Offered”

  1. George on April 29th, 2016 4:35 pm

    Alan, as he was known to his many local friends & customers, was a really great guy who would do anything for you, as long as you were not trying to take advantage of him or his family business. I believe he always worked the closing shift because he didn’t want to put others at risk, since the store wasn’t in the best of neighborhoods. He always seemed to be in a good mood, even when he had to deal with difficult customers, which was often.
    I knew Alan for almost 20 years and you just had to like the man. I would frequent his store 2- 3 times a week. On Fridays I would fill up my tank & he would joke about seeing me on Saturday, knowing I wouldn’t be back until the next week, since I live in Milton & work in P’cola.
    His wife,Erica, worked the store in the mornings & she was the same as Alan, always smiling & saying hello. They were just kind & friendly people who wanted to make a living for themselves & raise their children.
    My heart goes out to all his family & friends because we lost someone special.

    I AM SO SAD….

  2. David Huie Green on April 29th, 2016 2:02 pm

    REGARDING:
    “Is the reward for dead or alive, either way? It doesn’t say.”

    You might get paid either way, but you’d soon lose all in legal fees if you killed the accused, no matter if guilt is not in doubt.

    David for money well spent

  3. Concerned on April 29th, 2016 1:55 pm

    It saddens me to know that this man was so much more than a store owner/clerk & a heartless individual passes through town(on a crime spree no less) & takes his life like he’s just an object taking up space!!! I don’t know the victim but have read stories of what a great man he was….The suspect needs to be apprehended by any means necessary because obviously he has no problem taking down anyone in his path!!

  4. Niknak50 on April 29th, 2016 6:49 am

    Is the reward for dead or alive, either way? It doesn’t say.

  5. anne on April 28th, 2016 8:30 pm

    How can anyone care so little about a life? It is just creepy to see how heartless this guy is. I think he needs to get life with only bread and water. I’ll pay for the bread.

  6. XD9RACER on April 28th, 2016 6:25 pm

    Those are some very good pictures and more than capable of finding these killers. This should act as a wake up call for all these other business establishments with a poor video system to upgrade to catch this kind or to detour the others from even trying to do their dirt inside a business or anywhere. It might take new laws put in place to make these businesses have a better surveillance system to catch these crooks.
    These culprits do not deserve a trial at taxpayers expense then sit in prison for humongous years on our dime as swift justice is most deserving here like they administered to this victim. Just too much crime going on. What is so important in their lives and needs to kill for it and most of the time for near nothing and ruin so many families in the process. DEATH PENALTY CASE HERE. GETERDONE.

  7. Chris on April 28th, 2016 6:14 pm

    I hope This guy fries in hell.

  8. lone chief on April 28th, 2016 3:50 pm

    Only 1 remedy for folks like this. Commanded to us by the almighty…the first law in the Book of Beginnings (Genesis)…9:5/9:6. Read and heed!!!

  9. Melodies4us on April 28th, 2016 2:06 pm

    I hope the judge serves justice. This kind, innocent store clerk worked an honest living all day , day after day for his entire life, only to have his life taken by a thief.

  10. jeeperman on April 28th, 2016 2:04 pm

    That guy must not live in this county.