MURFREESBORO – Two suspects remain at large following an armed robbery of a business here Tuesday morning.

Murfreesboro Police Chief Darrell Rowe is asking the public to help with this case – one where two black males, both reportedly armed with long runs (either a rifle or shotgun), forced their way inside Advance Auto, held two employees at gunpoint and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

“We’re asking anyone that was traveling along either Wises Store Road or US 158/258 Business (Main Street) between 6:30 and 7 a.m. on Tuesday and witnessed anything suspicious to call the Murfreesboro Police Department (252-398-4151),” Rowe said. “These suspects are considered extremely dangerous and need to be taken off the street before they hurt or kill someone.”

Rowe said that shortly before 7 a.m., an Advance Auto delivery driver was unloading parts to take inside the store. There was a female clerk also working Tuesday morning.

“We believe the suspects were lying in wait to make their move and did so by forcing the delivery driver inside the front of the store,” Rowe said. “Once inside the male employee was ordered to lie on the floor and was held there at gunpoint. The female employee, also held at gunpoint, was ordered to hand over what cash was in the store. Fearing for her life, she obliged.”

Rowe said the suspects – both dressed in all black with dark hoodies and black bandanas hiding their faces – fled after committing the robbery. He added that while both employees were mentally shaken by the ordeal, neither was injured.

After the suspects were out of sight, each employee called 9-1-1.

“We had an officer (Sgt. Jamie Dilday) on the scene within 30 seconds,” Rowe said. “Once he made sure the scene was secure and the employees were okay, he immediately called for additional manpower.”

Rowe said MPD officers and Hertford County Sheriff’s deputies soon arrived. A tracking dog and officer from the Ahoskie Police Department were also called to help.

“The Ahoskie PD dog was able to pick up a track from the store to a certain location; we got another K-9 from Tillery Correctional Institute and that dog confirmed the same track,” Rowe said. “That led us to the conclusion that the suspects had a vehicle waiting and fled the area.”

Rowe said the investigation, ongoing since Tuesday, has led officers to develop evidence of the route the suspects used to flee the scene.

“We suspected they would try to get rid of some of the evidence,” Rowe stated. “We had officers to walk that route for four miles and also rode 10 miles along that suspected path. We were able to recover some evidence which has been sent to the SBI lab. We’re hoping that evidence will help us solve this case.”

Rowe thanked all the agencies involved, including Chowan University Security, for helping his department.