A Pittsburgh man arrested in connection with four armed robberies in March, including two in which people were shot, now faces federal charges.
Eric Jones, 32, of the city’s East Hills neighborhood has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of robbery, attempted robbery and firearms violations, authorities announced Tuesday.
The robbery spree outlined in the nine-count indictment took place from March 6 to March 15.
Allegheny County Police arrested Jones March 19.
Authorities accused Jones of robbing the Fox’s Pizza Den in Oakmont on March 6.
The owner was shot several times during that incident.
Jones is also charged in connection with the robbery of a Sunoco gas station and convenience store along Hulton Road in Penn Hills on March 10.
Authorities said Jones attempted to rob a Family Dollar along Frankstown Road in Pittsburgh and the Edgewood Avenue Express in Edgewood, both on March 15.
A 53-year-old man was shot in the torso during the Edgewood incident, authorities said.
The indictment also alleges Jones fired a gun during another one of the aforementioned robberies, and brandished a gun in connection with another. He is accused of possessing a semi-automatic pistol.
Authorities said the indictment was a result of a collaborative effort between the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Allegheny County Police Department; The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office as well as the Oakmont, Penn Hills, Edgewood and Pittsburgh police departments.
Anyone with information on the robberies is asked to call the county police tipline at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
