Police: Three men stole woman’s car at gunpoint before robbing 2 gas stations

Three men stole a woman’s car at gunpoint before robbing two gas stations, according to testimony Monday morning in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Darious Robinson, 18, pleaded not guilty to armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was ordered held without bond in the Muscogee County Jail.

Judge Julius Hunter bound the case over to Superior Court.

Columbus police were called to the Big Cat Fuels at 2936 North Lumpkin Road on July 9 to investigate a carjacking.

Sgt. Lance Deaton said a woman was hijacked by three men outside of the gas station. Marquis Lamar Johnson, who was identified as one of the suspects, allegedly aimed a weapon at the woman and demanded her property.

Police said she threw her wallet, keys and cellphone on the ground, and a suspect grabbed the keys and wallet. All three men got into the woman’s car and left, leaving the cellphone behind, Deaton told the court.

Robinson allegedly drove the stolen car to the Circle K at 2102 Wynnton Road. The other two suspects left the vehicle with weapons and robbed the gas station, according to police.

Deaton said Robinson then drove them to a Circle K in Alabama, where police said all three of the men robbed the store.

Detectives used surveillance video of the incidents to identify the suspects.

“Some of his tattoos and things of that are clearly visible at two of the three stores,” Deaton said of Robinson.

Johnson, 20, was arrested on July 12 after he allegedly robbed the Village Pawn Shop on Fort Benning Road with 23-year-old Jamal Head and 21-year-old Quantavius Pigler.

Robinson was taken into custody the next day at the Big Cat Fuels after he allegedly threatened a married couple with a gun.

Authorities declined to release the name of the third suspect in the July 9 incident. Warrants have been issued for his arrest, and he remains on the loose.

This story was originally published July 26, 2017 at 4:35 PM with the headline "Police: Three men stole woman’s car at gunpoint before robbing 2 gas stations."