Robbers give woman abrupt wake up

Webb, Coard, Couser arrested by police for armed robbery, first-degree burglary

By JOE PERRY
Item Staff Writer
jperry@theitem.com

WEDGEFIELD — A 49-year-old woman woke up early Wednesday after a black man brandishing a handgun yanked off her blankets and demanded money, a report said.

Two teenagers were arrested near the scene and a third man believed to be involved was captured early Wednesday evening.

Shawan Rocki Webb, 18, of 1180 Lockwood Circle, Alcolu; and Eric Deon Coard, 19, 80 Habitat Court, have been charged with armed robbery and first-degree burglary, said Sumter County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jamie Turner on Wednesday afternoon.

Brandon Tirrell Cousar, of 1180 Lockwood Circle in Alcolu, was added Wednesday to the Most Wanted list, and is facing the same charges as Webb and Coard. Police said over their radio he was taken off the NCIC — National Crime Information Center — and was taken into custody about 7:15 p.m.

A report said deputies responded to a call of suspicious people in the back yard of a home in the 300 block of Planters Drive about 12:55 a.m., and as a deputy turned from Wedgefield Road onto Kilpatrick Drive — between Deschamps and Keels roads — he saw two black males running from the 200 block of Kilpatrick toward a white Dodge van.

Webb was detained at the point, the report said, and Coard ran into some woods. As a K-9 unit was successfully capturing Coard, deputies received a call of a 49-year-old woman in the 200 block of Kilpatrick Drive who said someone threw a cinder block through her back glass door, and she awoke to an armed intruder who yanked off her blankets and demanded money.

The woman told deputies she managed to make it to her kitchen and gave the intruder a small jar with Easter designs holding about $70, and the man ran out the back door.

Anyone with information on the break-in is urged to contact the Sumter County Sheriff's Office at (803) 436-2700 or Crime Stoppers at (803) 436-2718. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.



Contact Staff Writer Joe Perry at jperry@theitem.com or (803) 774-1272.