Two men are accused of robbing the owner of a precious metals shop Sunday in east Vancouver. A third suspect is outstanding.
Donny Ray Rodgers Jr., 21, and R-Jay Edward Richardson, 22, both of Vancouver, appeared Tuesday via Zoom in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree assault, kidnapping and robbery.
Judge Suzan Clark set their bail at $150,000 each; they will be arraigned Feb. 19, court records show.
Vancouver police responded at about 9:25 p.m. for a robbery that had just occurred at Apex Metals. The victim and owner of the business told 911 that multiple men had robbed him at gunpoint. He told dispatchers he was following the suspect vehicle, a gold Chevrolet Trailblazer, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Due to safety concerns, the victim was told to stop pursuing the vehicle and return to his business. About 10 minutes later, police located the suspect vehicle traveling east on East Mill Plain Boulevard near Interstate 205. Police stopped the vehicle and detained the driver, identified as Rodgers, and front passenger, identified as Richardson, the affidavit says.
The victim positively identified the vehicle and said he believes Rodgers was the man who robbed him at gunpoint, court documents state.
The victim said he was leaving his business when Rodgers approached him, pointed a gun and forced him to walk to the backyard, where he demanded money and jewelry. He turned and struggled with Rodgers over the firearm. Rodgers lost control of the gun and yelled for help. A second assailant approached and used a stun gun on the victim. Both suspects then fled to their vehicle, according to the affidavit.
Police found a firearm in the backyard. Video surveillance outside the business also captured the robbery, court records say.
In an interview with police, Richardson said he, Rodgers and an acquaintance, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, planned to rob the owner of Apex Metals. They drove in Rodgers’ Chevrolet Trailblazer to the area and parked down the street, the affidavit states.
Richardson said that Rodgers wanted him to help hold the owner hostage while they went through his pockets for money and jewelry. Richardson said he refused and stayed in the vehicle, according to court records.
Rodgers told police it was the acquaintance’s idea to rob Apex Metals but that he had planned it. He believed the owner would have expensive jewelry and a lot of money on him, Rodgers said. He also said the acquaintance got him the firearm and shocked the owner during the struggle, the affidavit states.
Both Rodgers and Richardson said they let the acquaintance out of the vehicle after the victim stopped following them and before police stopped them.
