Two men face allegations of robbing a Vancouver couple at gunpoint in their apartment last month and stealing belongings, including a pink 9 mm handgun.
Around 11 p.m. Nov. 19, Vancouver police were sent to an apartment in the 11600 block of Northeast 49th Street. A man had called 911 to report that a man, later identified as Billy Lawson, 28, had barged into his home, hit him with a pistol and made threats to kill him while holding him at gunpoint, according to documents filed in Clark County Superior Court.
While the man was being held at gunpoint, a second man, later identified as Quandre E. Epps, 21, of Portland, searched the residence for firearms, money and other valuables, the documents said. Lawson reportedly told Epps to tie up the male victim and his girlfriend.
Epps and Lawson then left the couple zip-tied in the apartment after taking some belongings, including the couple’s cellphones and a handgun, the documents said.
When police arrived at the apartment, the couple had markings on their wrists consistent with having been zip-tied. The male victim told police that the two men had driven to his home in a maroon Ford Crown Victoria.
About four hours after the incident, Gresham, Ore., police saw a maroon Crown Victoria and pulled it over. One of its occupants was identified as Lawson, and he was arrested for allegedly committing the robbery. Epps was not in the car during the traffic stop.
Lawson was booked into the Clark County Jail on Nov. 25, with bail set at $500,000. Lawson, a local transient, has a felony history out of Tennessee, according to court documents. He was arraigned on suspicion of two counts of first-degree armed robbery, two counts of first-degree armed kidnapping, first-degree armed burglary and theft of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty, and was scheduled to appear in court again on Jan. 13.
The sheriff’s office issued a warrant for Epps and on Thursday authorities arrested and booked him into jail. He appeared in court Friday on allegations that are identical to Lawson’s and had his bail set at $500,000. He has no local criminal history, according to the sheriff’s office. Epps’ next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.
