A brazen daytime robbery at a Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams store in the Central West End of St. Louis, Missouri, ended in a violent confrontation and the subsequent arrest of the suspect. Rodney Gardner, 52, of St. Louis, entered the ice cream shop on March 6, 2018, and demanded that employees hand over money from the cash register.
According to court documents, Gardner posed as a customer before he committed the robbery. Once the employees realized what was happening, Gardner punched one of them multiple times in the face, breaking her nose, and grabbed the cash register. He then ran from the store, prompting a brief foot chase by police officers who eventually apprehended him.
Gardner was arrested and subsequently charged with one felony count of Hobbs Act robbery. On June 12, 2018, he pled guilty to the charge.
On [no date provided], Gardner appeared in federal court before U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber and was sentenced to 84 months in prison for his role in the robbery.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. Roy is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Gardner’s sentence serves as a reminder of the severity of committing a violent crime in the city of St. Louis. As the investigation and prosecution of Gardner’s case demonstrate, law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors will hold accountable those who engage in such behavior.
The Central West End community where the ice cream shop is located can breathe a sigh of relief now that the perpetrator has been brought to justice.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime