Second suspect identified in Speers home invasion
SPEERS – A Verona man has been identified as the second suspect in a Speers home invasion a week ago, and he’s facing accusations he tied up the victim and threatened him with a handgun and rifle while allegedly looking to steal marijuana and pills.
District Judge Larry Hopkins signed a warrant Monday for the arrest of Gerin Tayre Williamson, 18, of 619 Grove Road, in connection with the Aug. 7 robbery at 899 Twilight Hollow Road, court records show.
Daquan Rawls, 19, of 806 Crest Ave., Charleroi, is wanted by Charleroi Regional police as Williamson’s alleged conspirator. Rawls’ mother, Fatina Devenia Rawls, 38, of the same address, remained Monday in Washington County jail on charges she drove her son and Williamson to and from the house on Twilight Hollow Road where the victim, Robert F. Thorpe, 17, was left tied up in the lawn with a scarf around his face.
Police accused Daquan Rawls and Williamson of rushing into the house about 2:30 p.m. with a .22-caliber rifle and handgun and ransacking the residence looking for the drugs.
Williamson allegedly shoved a handgun to Thorpe’s head and struck him in the left knee with the rifle, breaking the gun’s stock.
The two suspects allegedly left the house with a jar of marijuana, a Samsung tablet and a suitcase, as well as a video gaming device owned by another resident, Michael Carr, police stated in the affidavit.
An investigator spoke Aug. 8 with Carr, and he revealed Thorpe possibly suffered internal injuries to his left knee and was using crutches.
Police also talked to Thorpe and his father and learned the second suspect was known to the victim as Tony Williams, a name they said turned out to be an alias for Williamson.
Williamson also was identified through a photo lineup that was shown to Thorpe, police said.
Daquan Rawls and Williamson are charged with conspiracy, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, theft, receiving stolen property, illegal possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment. Williamson also has been charged with kidnapping and unlawful restraint of a minor.