Masked armed robber, accomplice caught after hitting stores in York, Chester counties

A gun-wielding masked man who robbed two stores Monday morning in both York County and Chester County and an alleged accomplice were caught by Chester deputies after the second robbery, police said.

Darius Gamble, 23, of Columbia, is in the Chester County jail, said Robert Sprouse, Chester County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy. A second man who was a passenger in the blue Toyota Camry getaway car that was stopped by Chester deputies 10 miles south on Interstate 77 near Exit 77 is also in custody. Authorities have not yet identified the passenger.

Both stores that were robbed were Crenco gas stations/convenience stores where a masked man with a gun demanded money from employees, police said. No injuries were reported.

The York County armed robbery was at the Crenco on S.C. 901 near Exit 73 of Interstate 77 in southeastern York County, according to Trent Faris, spokesman for the York County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect with a handgun was wearing a hoodie, face mask and gloves and demanded money from the clerk, Faris said.

Shortly afterward, the Crenco on S.C. 9 near Exit 65 of Interstate 77 was robbed in what police say was a similar manner. Gamble and the passenger were caught by Chester deputies on southbound Interstate 77 after the crime, said deputy Sprouse of the Chester sheriff’s office.

Gamble had no South Carolina driver license in his possession, police said, but did have a state issued identification card.

Check back for updates.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 9:18 AM with the headline "Masked armed robber, accomplice caught after hitting stores in York, Chester counties."