ROCKINGHAM — A man with several prior robbery convictions is now facing charges related to three incidents within 24 hours.
According to investigators with the Rockingham Police Department, the suspect hitched a ride with an unnamed victim near McDonald’s around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Not long into the ride, the suspect allegedly pulled out a gun and the victim pulled into the parking lot of Burger King and jumped out of the vehicle. The suspect then reportedly took off with the vehicle.
Investigators say the vehicle was later recovered within the city limits — without the keys.
Police were reportedly unable to find the suspect in the hours that followed.
Around 10:30 p.m., police responded to a call of an attempted robbery at the gas station on the corner of U.S. 1 and Long Drive.
The suspect allegedly brandished a firearm and demanded money from the register. According to police, the store clerk repeatedly refused and the suspect eventually left empty handed.
Officers reportedly searched the area, but were unable to find the suspect. However, after reviewing security video, they were able to identify him as 29-year-old Laquinton Antwan Martin, whose address is listed as the streets of Rockingham.
Around midnight, Martin allegedly walked into Ashley Tobacco Mart — less than a mile away from the gas station on Long Drive — and tried to walk out with several undisclosed items.
Police say the clerk yelled at Martin to stop and the defendant pulled out a gun and said he didn’t have to pay before walking out the door.
Officers reportedly arrived on scene and learned Martin had run to the wooded area behind the Perdue Farms processing plant.
Police set a perimeter and eventually caught Martin on McArthur Drive.
Martin was arrested and booked into the Richmond County Jail at 2:51 a.m.
He is charged with two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count each of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and resisting a public officer, and is being held on a combined $200,000 secured bond. Jail records show he is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 28 on one charge and Oct. 5 on the rest.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Martin was first convicted in 2013 of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a deadly weapon and spent 21 months in prison.
In 2017, Martin was convicted in Rowan County four counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon (one labeled as conspiracy), and one count of felony breaking and entering, and was incarcerated for nearly four years.
Martin went back to prison in January of 2022 on a post-release revocation and was released on Nov. 23.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
