On September 27, 2022 Rashawn Coleman, 24, was sentenced to 22 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for the armed robbery of AT&T and Cricket Wireless cell phone retail stores in the Charlotte, NC area.
According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, on June 27, 2020, Rashawn robbed a Cricket Wireless store in Belmont, North Carolina. Rashawn entered the store posing as a customer and inquired about purchasing a cell phone.
Over the course of their exchange, Rashawn asked if there were any lower priced phones available. While the employee was in the back of the store looking through the cell phone inventory, Rashawn walked to the back and pointed a gun at him.
Rashawn then ordered the employee to hand over all of the iPhones and other high valued cell phones.
Rashawn also ordered the employee to load the store’s safe in Rashawn’s vehicle before fleeing the scene. Rashawn escaped without being arrested.
On July 29, 2020, Rashawn robbed the AT&T Wireless store located at 6509 Wilkinson Boulevard near Charlotte, NC.
Rashawn entered the store and began to inquire about purchasing a cell phone. While the employee was at the computer looking through available inventory, Rashawn came around the counter and pointed a firearm at her.
Rashawn then ordered the store employee to place all the cell phones from the safe in his bag. Rashawn then fled the scene in his vehicle.
Following the robbery, Charlotte police officers located Rashawn driving his vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
Rashawn evaded police in a high speed chase where he drove the wrong way on I-77.
The chase went all the way to the North Lake Mall area where Rashawn crashed into a guard rail. He ran to the Perimeter Lofts Apartments on foot.
An on-duty officer chased and came into physical contact with Rashawn. The suspect threw the officer to the ground and slapped the officer.
Rashawn stole the cop’s marked patrol cruiser and drove away. The officer grabbed on to the cruiser to prevent Rashawn from getting away, the officer was dragged hundreds of feet.
Rashawn hit a vehicle near North Lake Mall and the impact sent the clinging officer flying from the police vehicle.
Rashawn hit another car at a intersection and the police vehicle went down a steep wooded embankment.
Rashawn was injured from the wreck and surrendered.
Inside Rashawn’s vehicle were stolen cell phones, a firearm, and a magazine that contained 15 bullets.
On December 13, 2021, Rashawn pleaded guilty to two counts of possession and brandishing of a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence.
