Suspect fatally shot, two others facing federal charges in Blue Springs Walgreens robbery

A man suspected in area robberies was shot and killed by law enforcement officers early Thursday outside a Blue Springs drugstore.

Jermon Seals of Shawnee died after he was shot during a confrontation with law enforcement outside the Walgreens at 1701 N.W. Missouri 7 about 3:45 a.m.

A group of men had just robbed the store at gunpoint, taking cash and prescription-grade cough syrup, according to court records.

Two other men who were allegedly involved in the robbery were arrested nearby. Shannon R. Thomas, 25, of Shawnee, and Deonte J. Collins-Abbott, 21, of Grandview, were charged in federal court with armed robbery and firearms violations.

The three men had been followed to the scene of the robbery by law enforcement officers who had Thomas and Collins-Abbott under surveillance in an investigation of 21 armed robberies of businesses in Independence, Raytown, North Kansas City, Kansas City and Kansas City, Kan. Authorities said the group may have been responsible for holdups of convenience stores, pharmacies, liquor stores and gas stations.

The investigation included federal agents and the Kansas City Police Department’s career criminal squad, said FBI spokeswoman Bridget Patton.

Investigators believed a total of four people had been involved in the robberies and suspected members of that group in a March 15 shooting at a Conoco gas station at 4656 Prospect Ave. The investigators focused on Collins-Abbott and the other men after spotting the license plate of a vehicle in surveillance video outside some of the robberies.

On Thursday morning, the investigators followed Collins-Abbott from his apartment to Seals’ home, then followed the pair as they picked up Thomas. Shortly after 3 a.m., the three stopped at a gas station in Blue Springs and allegedly attempted to rob it but quickly left, according to court documents.

The three, who reportedly were armed, then went to the Walgreens about 3:45 a.m. and allegedly held up an employee at gunpoint outside the store, forcing him inside with a gun to the back of his head. One of the robbers took cash from the register while two others jumped the pharmacy counter to take cough syrup.

When law enforcement officers confronted the three men as they exited the store, at least one member of the group brandished a weapon at the officers, according to law enforcement officials. Officers fired, killing Seals.

Patton said it has not been determined which agency’s officer or officers fired the fatal shot or whether the person brandishing the weapon fired.

Months before Seals’ death, a man identifying himself as Seals’ father had approached a Kansas City police detective with the Kansas City No Violence Alliance, according to court records. In January, the man had asked the detective to “help save his son,” who he said was “running with the wrong crowd.”

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 7:25 AM with the headline "Suspect fatally shot, two others facing federal charges in Blue Springs Walgreens robbery."