Arrest made in connection to CVS armed robbery; gunman still at large

Hoover police have arrested an individual who has confessed to orchestrating an armed robbery that occurred at a Hoover CVS, according to a press release.

Police released a surveillance photo on Sunday, Oct. 16 of the suspect from an armed robbery that took place early that morning.

Police responded to the CVS Pharmacy on Chase Drive around 4:32 a.m., following the report of an armed robbery. The victim, a clerk at the store, told police a male wearing a red ski cap and red bandana covering his face entered the store. The suspect was carrying a shotgun, according to the report, and held the clerk at gunpoint, demanding cash from the registers and later from the safe in the back of the store.

The victim grabbed the shotgun from the suspect, and during a struggle between the victim and suspect, a shot was fired into the floor, according to police. The victim had minor leg injuries and was taken to UAB Medical West in Hoover. He was treated and released.

The surveillance photos led to tips that helped identify the gunman, police said, along with a second suspect.

The second suspect was identified as Jamese Jivonne Gregory, a 27-year-old Birmingham resident and employee of the CVS where the robbery occurred.

Gregory was arrested Monday, Oct. 19 around 4 p.m., around the time she arrived at work. She confessed to helping orchestrate the robbery and to waiting in a nearby getaway car.

Police are still seeking the male suspect, said Capt. Gregg Rector, and his identity will be released after he is arrested.

“The female suspect has been somewhat cooperative with investigators. Her boyfriend, however, has proven to be a little more elusive but it’s only a matter of time before he’s arrested,” Rector said.

Rector said that several groups helped solve this crime and identify the suspect.

“Media coverage and social media certainly played a key role, and most importantly, citizens stepped us to say crime is not OK,” Rector said. “People are fed up with crime and gun crime in particular. It seems like we say this way too often, but we’re not going to tolerate this type activity in our city.”