The scene in Baltimore County and the city has become stuck on instant replay -- a small group of young men armed with powerful weapons, moving with military precision, robbing and terrorizing patrons and employees of supermarkets, fast-food outlets and other businesses.
Last night, Perry Hall was where a now infamous, highly mobile gang of bandits, or some copy-cats, robbed another fast-food restaurant and escaped with an undetermined amount of cash.
City police, meanwhile, announced the filing of formal criminal charges against a 19-year-old man already charged by Baltimore County police in three armed robberies committed by the shotgun-toting thieves who have struck at least two dozen businesses since late last year.
Sadiyq Abdullah Muhammed, of no fixed address, was charged by city authorities yesterday with participating in robberies of two fast-food eateries, a supermarket and a shoe store.
Muhammed, also known as Tony Bedford, was recently charged by county police with two counts of armed robbery, attempted murder and attempted armed robbery. In one of those robberies, an assistant manager of the Pikesville Holiday Inn was shot in the abdomen.
"We can't say he's the shooter, but we have evidence placing him there," said E. Jay Miller, spokesman for county police.
In at least two other holdups by the gang, one shotgun blast was fired near the head of a supermarket manager in the city and violent threats have been made against victims, police have said.
Police in neither jurisdiction are saying whether an arrest of Muhammed is close. He is described as a 5-foot, 8-inch black man who weighs about 145 pounds. He wears a gold ring in his right nostril and the word "Israel" is tattooed on his left arm.
Detectives, who have been hard pressed to halt the blitz by the gang of armed robbers, or perhaps a copycat version of the original band, are not commenting on any possible leads in solving the crimes.
In last night's robbery, three masked men entered the Kentucky Fried Chicken in the 9100 block of Belair Road, Perry Hall, about 8:41 p.m.
"They came in quietly," said Frank Mayfield, Kentucky Fried's director of operations at Baltimore and Harford counties' stores. "But two jumped over the counter and pulled guns on the assistant manager."
Moving quickly to avoid capture, the gunmen ordered the employee to open all the safes and cash drawers, which he did, Mayfield said.
