Police probe Hillsborough Street robberies

Raleigh, N.C. — Stephen Lane is back at work at the Wing Zone restaurant in Raleigh the day after he was robbed at gunpoint.

At about 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, a man entered the restaurant, at 2020 Hillsborough St., displayed a gun and demanded money, police said.

"I gave him the money, and he ran out the door toward Maiden Lane," Lane said.

The robber fled the scene on foot, but witnesses saw him get into a vehicle, Raleigh police said.

A short time later, officers arrested four men – Gerald Murphy Jr., 26, Demetrius Antonio Davis, 18. Demetrius Lee Morgan, 20, and Dyrick Mohammed Morgan, 19 – in connection with the crime.

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Hillsborough Street restaurant robbed twice

In the past five weeks, Lane's restaurant has been hit twice.

"We thought it would calm down over the holiday season," Lane said. "I'm sure the economy has something to do with it. I don't know if they're using it as an excuse or not."

After Wing Zone was robbed the first time on Dec. 17, police went out and gave employees tips on robbery prevention.

They also put up a height chart on the door, so if the store does get robbed, they can give investigators a better description of the suspect.

Two other stores on Hillsborough Street have also been robbed recently – Gumby's Pizza on Dec. 22 and Pizza America on Jan. 8. During that crime, an employee was shot.

Although police say it is not a big increase in crime, they urged businesses and people in the area to use caution .

Some visitors to the area say they feel unsafe.

"You never know what can happen," said Aena Ko. "A lot of people are just wandering around, besides students."

Police were still investigating Sunday's robbery, in which the suspects face multiple charges, but they have not said whether they think the suspects are linked to the other crimes.

All four men are charged with armed robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit armed robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Demetrius Morgan and Dyrick Morgan – whom police say are brothers – were also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying a concealed weapon.