WINNSBORO (July 21, 2016) – A year and a half ago a Ridgeway family was terrorized as armed men crashed into their home in the middle of the night. Last week, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office took one suspect into custody.
Jerome A. Armstrong, 24, of McDuffie Lane, Winnsboro, was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office on July 11 and charged with armed robbery, first-degree burglary, assault and battery and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
According to the official report from the original incident, a 45-year-old Ridgeway man was in his home in the 6000 block of Old 21 on the night of Dec. 21, 2014 when, just after midnight, several armed men forced their way inside. Investigators are still not exactly clear on just how many armed men broke into the home, but the initial 9-1-1 call reported four suspects had entered the home.
One of the suspects struck the victim on the right side of his head with a rifle butt and demanded money. A second victim inside the home, a 49-year-old woman, managed to call 9-1-1.
When a deputy arrived minutes later, he reported seeing a man armed with a shotgun coming out the front door. The suspect was carrying an assortment of random items taken from the home, but when he saw the deputy, he dropped them and ran.
The deputy reported that he did not pursue the suspect because the 9-1-1 call indicated there were as many as four suspects involved, any of which could have still been inside the home. A team of investigators arrived a short time later and the home was cleared. No other suspects were located at the scene. A bloodhound unit was later dispatched, but its search proved fruitless.
The male victim was treated by EMS at the scene but was later transported to Fairfield Memorial Hospital.
Sheriff Will Montgomery said the arrest of Armstrong in no way closes the books on this case.
“This continues to be an active and ongoing investigation,” Montgomery said, “and we are in the process of trying to identify any other individuals involved in this incident.”
