Armed Robbery Press Release

JCPD NEWS RELEASE

On Tuesday, 10/20/2020, at approximately 9:35 p.m., officers responded to Tri City Wholesale Tobacco, 2518 S. Roan St. on an attempted armed robbery. The suspect fired a pistol inside the store and no one was injured. The suspect was description was given to all units after the suspect fled the scene.

At approximately 10:15 p.m., officers responded to an armed robbery at Scotchman, 1101 E. Unaka Ave. In that incident, the clerk complied with the suspect’s demands but was threatened with a firearm and controlled by the suspect. The clerk’s husband, who has a valid handgun carry permit, intervened and shot the suspect 2 times in self-defense after the suspect pointed the weapon at him. The suspect, with the same description as the previous attempted armed robbery, ran from the scene on foot. A police canine apprehended the suspect after he refused officers commands to surrender. He was taken into custody and transported to an area medical facility, where he remains in serious, but stable condition.

The suspect is identified as Dequan Lamar Rushing (3656 Ambrose Ridge Ct., Ellenwood, GA., 35 years old). He is being charged with aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated assault (3cts.), especially aggravated kidnapping, unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon (2cts.), and resisting arrest. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.

Anyone having information is requested to contact the Johnson City Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (423) 434-6166 or to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at (423) 434-6158. To send a confidential tip, text 423JCPD and your tip to 847411 (TIP411) or send a tip to www.citizenobserver.com. You can also send messages via the Johnson City Police Department Website http://www.johnsoncitytn.org/police/cid/

Lieutenant Don Shepard

Johnson City Police Department

City of Johnson City, Tennessee

423.434.6166 m. / 423.434.1009 o. / www.johnsoncitytn.org