MANHUNT: Crime spree escalates to murder; Pruitt is ‘extremely dangerous’

Published 3:00 am Friday, April 29, 2016

More than $10,000 is being offered for the Montgomery man who police say committed six armed robberies, a murder and an attempted murder in the past three weeks.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in Montgomery and Pensacola are currently attempting to locate and apprehend Raymond Pruitt, 39, a fugitive wanted in several jurisdictions in Alabama and Florida for armed robbery, attempted murder, and murder.

“When I first put the information out there, I said he was dangerous. And he is,” said Tony Garrett of Central Alabama Crime Stoppers.

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Pruitt’s crime spree began on April 5 in Montgomery when he stabbed his girlfriend and shot her with her own pistol as she tried to escape, according to law enforcement officials.

Pruitt has since been identified as the prime suspect in five armed robberies occurring in Montgomery, Ozark, Troy, and Prattville.

The Troy robbery took place at the Marathon gas station on U.S. 231 near Days Inn on April 19. Shortly after leaving Troy, he travelled to Ozark where he committed a second armed robbery.

“He’s extremely dangerous,” said Troy Police Chief Randall Barr.

“If anybody sees him they need to call the local law enforcement and let us deal with him.”

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Pensacola, Fla., also identified Pruitt as the subject who committed an armed robbery on Tuesday where he allegedly shot and killed a store clerk.

“He’s escalating … but he’s real cool, real calm and he robs right in the middle of the day,” Barr said. “It just lets you know how fortunate we were that no one was injured here.”

Pruitt was last seen driving a late model, light colored Hyundai Tucson sport utility vehicle.

Raymond Pruitt is 5-foot-3 weighing approximately 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

The U.S. Marshals are offering a reward up to $10,000 and Central Alabama Crime Stoppers are providing $1,000 for information leading to his arrest.

“He’s extremely dangerous,” Barr said. “The sooner we get him in custody the better off we all are.”

If you have any information regarding the location of Pruitt or information that may help law enforcement with his apprehension, please call the U.S. Marshals at 1-800- 336-0102 or Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).