CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A man who fired at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers days after committing an armed robbery has been sentenced to serve at least 72 years in prison.
Ramar Dion Benjamin Crump, 26, stood trial on the charges of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, nine counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, 10 counts of second-degree kidnapping and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; he was found guilty Tuesday on all counts except the two assault on a law enforcement officer charges.
The charges stem from September, 2013, when police responded to a parking lot on North Tryon after receiving word someone was in a vehicle loading guns. Police approached the vehicle, when Crump, who was in the driver's seat, began firing at the officers. A total of six shots were fired, one of which struck a dump truck-- just a mere 12-inches from one of the officer's head. Then Crump fled the scene.
Police pursued Crump's vehicle for more than 20 miles into Cabarrus County, where the vehicle was disabled and Crump and the passengers were ordered out of the car. Crump and his two codefendants, Jamel Lewis and Warren Lewis, were taken into custody.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers found guns, ID cards and credit cards belonging to other people. Police say the ID cards and credit cards connected Crump and Jamel Lewis to an armed robbery of people playing poker machines at a business off of Old Pineville Road several days beforehand.
In that incident, authorities say Crump and Jamel, armed with guns, forced the victims to line up against a wall and strip down to the undergarments before the victims were forced and barricaded into a bathroom. Crump and Jamel fled the scene with the victims' money, cellphones, credit cards and other items.
Tuesday, Crump was sentenced to serve 872 to 1203 months in prison.
Both Jamel Lewis and Warren Lewis have previously pled guilty for their roles in these crimes.
