Armed Robbery Suspect Caught

OCEAN CITY — A Grasonville man was charged with armed robbery last weekend after allegedly leading two juveniles looking for a convenience store from the Boardwalk to an off-street parking garage before robbing them at gunpoint.

Around 11:40 p.m. last Saturday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to the area of a hotel parking garage at 4th Street for a reported armed robbery. OCPD Communications broadcast a description of the suspect and that he was armed with a gun. An OCPD bicycle officer located the suspect, later identified as Montray Gross, Sr., 30, of Grasonville, as he was about to get into a car at 3rd Street. Gross was ordered to put his hands in the air, to which he complied, and he was taken into custody without further incident.

Police interviewed the two juvenile victims, who said they were walking on the Boardwalk and looking for a convenience store because they needed to buy milk when the first encountered Gross.

According to witness statements, Gross grabbed one of the juvenile victims by the arm and told them to follow him and he would show them where the store was. When the victim pulled away, Gross allegedly told the two juveniles to walk down the Boardwalk ramp at 4th Street and head north on Washington Lane before proceeding through a hotel parking garage.

The juvenile victims followed the instructions and were approached by Gross as they entered the parking garage. According to police reports, Gross told the two victims “give me all your money, I got the gun right here and I’ll shoot you.” One victim gave Gross $15 from his wallet along with a gold chain and another piece of jewelry along with a belt with a Corvette buckle. The second victim attempted to give Gross a $50 bill, but Gross allegedly saw more money in the victim’s wallet and told him “open your wallet,” and “don’t play, I have a gun.” The second victim turned over $270 from his wallet and Gross fled the scene on foot before being located.

The victims were brought to the scene and positively identified Gross as the man who had robbed them a short time earlier. A search of Gross revealed the stolen belt and buckle in the bed of a truck along with the currency stolen from the victims. Gross was also wearing the jewelry stolen from one of the victims.

OCPD officers located on Gross one round of 9mm Luger ammunition with gold ammunition with a silver tip, and one round of HRTRS 380 ammunition with a gold tip. On the passenger side floor of Gross’s truck, officers located a .38 caliber handgun loaded with the same ammunition found on Gross. He was charged with armed robbery, theft and other weapons-related charges.

About The Author: Shawn Soper

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Shawn Soper has been with The Dispatch since 2000. He began as a staff writer covering various local government beats and general stories. His current positions include managing editor and sports editor. Growing up in Baltimore before moving to Ocean City full time three decades ago, Soper graduated from Loch Raven High School in 1981 and from Towson University in 1985 with degrees in mass communications with a journalism concentration and history.