A former waitress at an unlawful underground poker membership in Connecticut advised the U.S. Solar she had no involvement in a botched armed theft try that ended with each robbers being shot to demise.
Bridgeport police, nevertheless, inform a distinct story, claiming that Shanica Merced assisted in plotting to rob her place of job. The 35-year-old was arrested final week on fees of conspiracy to commit theft within the first diploma and unlawful playing, each felonies. Her bond was set at $250,000.
What Went Down at Seedy Poker Membership?
Tayvon Geter and Richard Davis, each 30, entered the poker membership at 1542 Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport on March 30 armed with the intent to commit theft, based on police. A patron contained in the seedy playing den identified to host high-stakes poker video games exchanged gunfire with the would-be robbers, who have been each killed within the shootout.
An investigation into the incident has since transpired, and the newest replace is that Merced, a waitress on the membership, was arrested in connection. However she denied involvement in an interview with The U.S. Solar.
“I had nothing to do with it. I by no means advised these boys nothing,” Merced mentioned. “I did not inform the boys to come back right here [the illegal gambling club]. They simply confirmed up.”
Merced claims she was pals with one of many deceased suspects however did not know the opposite, and mentioned the armed people arrived on the membership in masks however took them off upon getting into the power.
Additional Particulars on Alleged Conspiracy to Commit Theft
Police declare that surveillance video exhibits Merced and one of many suspects having a personal dialog previous to when the theft occurred. Davis and Geter, based on investigators, then carried out a botched theft that left them each useless and a bullet grazing Merced throughout gunfire, though she did not endure any severe accidents.
Merced mentioned she was stunned when her buddy started robbing the underground poker membership.
“Them boys tried to rob the place. I had nothing to do with that,” she claims. “My buddy was coming in simply being a buddy, and he loses his thoughts.”
“I did not know what is going on on in individuals’s head. He needed to do what he needed to do. I had nothing to do with that.”
Investigators declare the surveillance footage exhibits Merced permitting the masked Davis and Geter to enter the membership on the night time of the lethal incident. She then sat down at a desk to talk with them, police say.
Merced acknowledged within the U.S. Solar interview that her buddy appeared her immediately within the eye and shot her. A bullet struck her leg, inflicting minor accidents. The accused conspirator is out on bail awaiting trial.
She supplied extra perception into the underground playing den that has since closed down, saying it was a “social membership the place individuals got here to hang around,” and that it was a “protected haven for individuals” till the botched armed theft.
Two others — Marcus Farmer, 37, and Sean Ellam, 38 — have been arrested two months after the incident for allegedly stealing a gun from the deceased suspects following the taking pictures. Police don’t imagine they have been concerned in planning or collaborating within the armed theft, nevertheless.
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