The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit is investigating the homicide of a robbery suspect who was attacked by an employee of in Pointer Ridge Plaza while trying to rob the restaurant.
The suspect in the robberies has been identified as Henry Lamont Gilbert, 29, of Hyattsville. He was pronounced dead Monday after succumbing to injuries he sustained while attempting to rob the Beijing Café in the Pointer Ridge Shopping Plaza on Crain Highway in Bowie, according to reports from police.
Gilbert had a long history with the legal system, dating back to 2002 in Maryland when he was charged with attempted armed robbery and several counts of assault— including assault with a deadly weapon—according to online court records.
He was put on five years supervised probation in July of 2010, after 6 months of treatment by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, after another case in which he was charged with robbery, assault and use of a deadly weapon.
On the afternoon of May 18, Gilbert walked into the store on Crain Highway demanding money and lifting his shirt to show a handgun to the cashier. The 48-year-old man cooperated, giving the suspect an undisclosed amount of money before he fled the store, nobody was injured in that incident, police said.
Gilbert then went into the Beijing Café, this time demanding money from an employee—a 31-year-old pregnant woman—who screamed when he approached her. When she started screaming, Gilbert began hitting her in the face and body with his gun, according to police.
Another employee, a 31-year-old man who also is the woman’s husband, grabbed a knife from the kitchen and went after Gilbert, cutting him on his neck, head and body. Gilbert fled the scene and headed down a walking path leading to Patriot Lane. The husband chased him on foot, but lost sight of him when he got to the ‘P’ section neighborhood.
The woman suffered cuts to her head and arm and was taken to Prince George’s Hospital. The male employee had multiple abrasions on his head and face and was treated on the scene. Police searched the area with K-9 on foot and by air, eventually finding the suspect in the 16000 block of Governors Bridge Road and taking him to Prince George’s Hospital. He remained at the hospital until Monday when he succumbed to his injuries.
The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit is continuing the investigation.
Listed are criminal charges, not necessarily convictions. -10/24/02 Robbery, Armed Robbery, Assault, Resisting Arrest -12/29/02 Assault, Resisting Arrest -3/27/03 Failure to control vehicle, attempting to flee... -3/28/03 Assault, Resisting Arrest -06/24/04 Possession CDS -7/28/04 Driving Unregistered vehicle, Driving uninsured vehicle -04/12/05 Driving with a revoked license -03/07/06 Possession of Handgun (2x), Poss. handgun after felony conviction -06/12/06 Armed Robbery, Assault, Felon in use of handgun in violent crime Looks like he finally sought (or was forced) to substance abuse treatment 01/11/2010 - 07/26/2010 in between his jail stints.
Pin a medal on the guy's chest for saving his wife and others from this thug.
Now go out and get a book titled "The Little, Brown Handbook"
It is a tragedy that someone died. It's a tragedy that he felt the only way to survive in this world was attempting to rob a pregnant woman, but I know a lot of people that are living tragedies and don't cope by beating a pregnant woman. I don't question that the husband was justified in what he did (he certainly was), but we are a better community than to celebrate the man's death. This man made a bunch of bad decisions in his life, but in the end he is still someone's son. "Good riddance" seems a bit beneath us. I'd save the "Good Riddance" for the judges and politicians that allowed him to still be on the streets with such a long record. Next time we are in the mood Chinese takeout, I'm driving the extra distance to give this family my business. We need to support them and show them how Bowie rallies around those in need.
I'm a big fan of Ichiban Sushi / Asian Bistro but I'll make a detour tonight.
I just saw this comment. You're hilarious.