York County, Virginia

From the Hampton Roads Daily Press of November 21, 2006

Three held after foiled robbery at York store

A 31-mile chase followed the incident at a Red Barn late Friday. Police are still investigating.

A foiled robbery at a York County convenience store Friday night led to three arrests and a long, high-speed chase down Interstate 64.

Several armed men entered the Red Barn on Route 17 in Grafton around 9:40 p.m. Friday, said Capt. Frank Crotty of the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office.

"They had guns," he said. "They had the store owner down on the floor."

A customer pulling in to get gas noticed the robbery in progress, he said, and called police.

At about the same time, the owner's son, who was working in the back of the store, came out and fired a gun at the men, Crotty said. He did not hit anyone, but caused the suspects to run from the store.

By that time, police were arriving outside, Crotty said.

One man jumped in a Kia minivan and sped from the scene, Crotty said, taking police on a 31-mile chase at speeds of 40 mph to nearly 100 mph. The man was eventually apprehended in Norfolk, after police cornered him in a parking lot on Lake Wright Drive.

Virginia State Police, Hampton police and Norfolk police all assisted in the chase.

Two additional suspects were located within a short distance of the Red Barn, after they ran from the scene.