Two suspects in Eltham 7-Eleven armed robbery taken into custody

Michael Sylvester Robinson (left), and Trey Daquan Smith (right) were taken into custody on May 8 and are charged in connection with the armed robbery of the 7-Eleven in the Eltham area of New Kent County.

Just over 48 hours after two men robbed the 7-Eleven store in the Eltham area of New Kent at gunpoint, county sheriff’s personnel have a King William County man and a King & Queen County man in custody.

Michael Sylvester Robinson, 38, of the 4300 block of Custis Mill Pond Rd. in King William County, and Trey Daquan Smith, 19, of the 200 block of Clancie Road, Shacklefords, in King & Queen County, are charged with one count each of robbery, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and conspiracy to commit robbery. The suspects are uncle and nephew.

“Good police work,” New Kent Sheriff F.W. “Wakie” Howard Jr. said when asked how investigators solved the case so quickly. “Detective Sgt. Donald Mehalko did a tremendous job on this case and was assisted by Detective Sgt. Farrar Howard III.”

The sheriff said investigators were able to glean information from several unnamed sources and from video surveillance photos taken the night of the robbery. He added that investigators spent about 12 hours yesterday (May 7) securing search warrants and planning a raid at one suspect’s home.

Around 2 a.m. this morning (May 8), a SWAT team consisting of officers from New Kent, King William, and Charles City descended on Robinson’s residence in King William County. Officers found both suspects inside the house, along with Robinson’s mother, who is not involved in the incident.

“That was a pleasant surprise,” Howard said. “We thought we’d get one of them, but they were both there.”

Both suspects were arrested without incident. Investigators found additional evidence at the scene, but Howard declined to elaborate. He also declined to say if the firearm allegedly used in the robbery had been recovered. Officers, however, recovered the money stolen from the 7-Eleven. The amount has not been released.

After Tuesday’s robbery, investigators received reports of a white vehicle being in the area at the time. A similar white vehicle was found at Robinson’s residence.

The suspects allegedly entered the store, located on Route 33 (Eltham Road) just west of the Eltham Bridge, shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday (May 6), accosting the lone clerk on duty. No customers were in the store.

Investigators say one suspect brandished a handgun while the other helped himself to an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register. The incident lasted mere minutes before the pair fled the store on foot. No shots were fired, and there were no injuries.

Both suspects are being held without bond at Henrico Jail East and are due in New Kent General District Court for arraignment next Tuesday (May 13).

“Everybody worked extremely hard and put a lot of time and effort into tracking down leads,” Howard said, also praising assistance from the King William Sheriff’s Office. “This was an outstanding job. I’m very proud of all of them.”

A surveillance photo taken during the robbery shows the alleged suspects in an early morning May 6 armed robbery at the 7-Eleven in the Eltham area of New Kent.

New Kent Sheriff’s Office photo