Suspect nabbed in armed robbery
A Uniontown man who has been on the run for more than 18 months for his alleged role in an armed robbery in South Union Township has been captured.
State police said Shawn Richard Knight, 19, was charged Friday with robbery, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery and theft by unlawful taking.
Police allege that Knight worked as an “inside man” for Matthew Etling, 20, of Uniontown, when he opened a rear door of the Sheetz store so Etling could enter the business and rob it.
Etling was sentenced in December to five to 10 years in state prison for robbing the store and assaulting the manager.
State police said that Etling came in through the back door of the Sheetz store around 12:30 a.m. May 29, 2011, when a Knight, then an employee there, opened the door to take out the trash.
Police said Etling used a handgun to hit the store manager in her face and head, and stole $2,300 from an open safe.
Etling pleaded guilty in the matter in October.
Knight has been on the lam from police since he was identified and charged in the days following the robbery.
Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. arraigned Knight, and placed him in Fayette County Prison on $20,000 straight cash bond.
He will face a preliminary hearing at a later date.