⏱ 2 min read
Gareth Francis, a 45-year-old North Andover man, allegedly robbed a CVS Pharmacy in Danvers, Massachusetts, at gunpoint on May 11, 2026, making off with various prescription drugs. The robbery occurred just before 8:00 PM, when Francis entered the store wearing a ski mask and carrying a black plastic bag and a firearm. He demanded that pharmacists open the narcotics safe and fill his bag with prescription drugs, threatening to shoot them if they didn’t comply.
Francis’s ordeal ended when a police officer arrived outside the store and chased him on foot, eventually tackling him to the ground in the middle of the street. The officer struggled to subdue Francis, who was allegedly armed and resisting arrest.
Francis has been charged with one count of robbery interfering with interstate commerce, also known as Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is currently being held in pretrial custody on state charges in Salem District Court and will make his initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
The investigation into the armed robbery is ongoing, with federal authorities working to determine the full extent of Francis’s crimes. If convicted, Francis faces serious prison time for his role in the armed robbery of the Danvers CVS Pharmacy.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Massachusetts
- Location: MA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
