A mother and son were taken into custody Thursday morning after the son robbed the Rite Aid pharmacy on Highway 45 in Columbus.
Joshua Jeffcoat, 29, of 1875 Shellbrook Drive, Huntsville, Ala., and Sherry Jeffcoat, of West Point, were taken into custody Thursday morning in the Kmart parking lot after Joshua Jeffcoat allegedly walked into the Rite Aid pharmacy and handed a pharmacy technician a note demanding drugs.
According to Glenda Buckhalter of the Columbus Police Department, Jeffcoat walked into the pharmacy shortly after 11 a.m. with a note that said, “I have a gun. I want drugs. You have 30 seconds. No alarm or it will be a blood bath. Step away from the counter and don’t let your co-worker know.”
Buckhalter said the clerk handed Jeffcoat various pills, including Xanax, before he fled the scene. Witnesses described the get-away car as a white SUV.
Law enforcement officers with both the CPD and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene and within minutes, the mother and son were spotted in a white Chrysler Town and Country van. Dozens of law enforcement officers descended on scene to apprehend the suspects. As he was being handcuffed, Joshua Jeffcoat began yelling at his mother, “I love you Mom!” He then began yelling expletives at an investigator.
Several law enforcement officers said Joshua Jeffcoat appeared to be under the influence of drugs.
Although he claimed to have a gun in the note he handed to the pharmacy technician, no weapon was found. He complained of pain on scene and was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle where he was treated and released before being taken to the Columbus Police Department for questioning. Joshua Jeffcoat was charged with one count of armed robbery.
Sherry Jeffcoat was taken to the Columbus Police Department for questioning, but was later released and no charges are expected to be filed against her.
Joshua Jeffcoat is currently awaiting bond at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.