A Silver Spring man is accused of using a rifle to rob two businesses last week, Montgomery County police said Wednesday.
William T. Thompson, 23, was arrested on Saturday. He was charged with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of using a firearm during the commission of a violent felony, and one count of possession of a handgun in a vehicle.
Police said the robberies happened on Aug. 9 and 10.
Someone entered a 7-Eleven in Cloverly on Aug. 9 shortly after midnight with their face concealed and holding a rifle, police said. The person threatened an employee and stole cash, fleeing in a dark-colored sedan.
The following day, at around 3 p.m., someone went into Hollywood Beer & Wine in Colesville, also with their face concealed and holding a rifle, police said. The person threatened an employee and obtained cash, fleeing in a blue sedan.
Officers responded to the 15300 block of Hannans Way in Rockville at around 6:40 p.m. for a report of a blue sedan striking a mailbox and leaving the scene. The vehicle was found disabled on the side of Carrolton Road.
Thompson was identified as the driver of the sedan, and officers detected the smell of marijuana on him and in the car, police said. Thompson was found with an empty handgun holster on his belt and money in his pants pocket, police said.
Officers searching Thompson’s sedan found a loaded handgun, a loaded rifle, a ski mask and gloves, police said. Investigators determined that Thompson and the rifle matched surveillance video and witness statements from both robberies.
Thompson was being held without bond in a county detention center. He is scheduled to appear in Rockville District Court on Sept. 6. Online records do not list attorney representation for him as of Wednesday afternoon.
Charlie Wright can be reached at charlie.wright@moco360.media
