Columbia Police Search for Suspect of Second Pharmacy Robbery

Columbia Police are searching for a man they say robbed a pharmacy on Broad River Road near Irmo Saturday morning. 

Police said a man walked into the Walgreens store located at 7412 Broad River Road shortly after 9 a.m. and demanded several controlled substances such as pain medicines from a pharmacist.

A witness told authorities the man lifted his sweatshirt to show what may have been a weapon tucked in his waistband, according to a news release.

No one was physically injured during the robbery.

The suspect is described as a white male with facial hair such as a goatee. He was last seen wearing a light-colored hoodie, possibly gray in color, a white or tan baseball cap, blue jeans and white tennis shoes.

The suspect may have left the store in a dark blue, 4-door (full size) pickup truck. The truck was describe as an older model, possibly 2000, and may have damage on the right side. 

This is the second armed robbery on Broad River Road this week.

Police are investigating a similar robbery at a Rite Aid at the corner of Broad River and Bush River roads.

The man allegedly entered the store and demanded controlled substances from the pharmacist while showing a handgun in his waistband, police said. 

The suspect in that incident is described as a white male, wearing a dark-colored sweatshirt with the words “Appalachian State” embroidered in yellow or gold on the front. He was also wearing blue jeans, clear latex gloves, a light-colored baseball cap, and a surgical mask partially covering his face. 

Columbia Police are investigating whether the same suspect committed both crimes.

Anyone with information about either robbery should call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.