FRANKLIN, OH — Three out of four men involved in a dramatic armed robbery of a Franklin pawn shop have pleaded guilty, with a fourth expected to do so next month, according to prosecutors.
The Cashland store on East Second Street was targeted in June 2024, just before closing time. Four masked suspects entered the store—two with hammers and backpacks, one holding an employee at gunpoint, and another acting as the lookout and getaway driver.
A nearby witness who saw the men putting on face coverings quickly dialed 911, prompting a police response. Officers chased the suspects down I-75, but ultimately lost sight of them.
Investigators later used a combination of Flock license plate cameras, doorbell camera footage, and tips from parkgoers to identify the group. Police also recovered clothing, tools, face masks, and stolen firearms hidden in a wooded area near the park. The firearm used to threaten the employee was later determined to be an air pistol.
The suspects—D’Ali Brown, Jaron Davidson, Ray Lindsey, and Anthony Burke—were all arrested shortly after the incident.
Brown and Davidson pleaded guilty to robbery and kidnapping last month and were each sentenced to 8 to 12 years in prison.
Lindsey pleaded guilty to robbery, kidnapping, and failure to comply and will be sentenced next month.
Burke is scheduled for a plea and sentencing hearing next month.
Authorities praised the swift collaboration between law enforcement and the community, emphasizing how surveillance technology and citizen tips led to the arrests.
