Albany Herald

ALBANY, Ga. -- When a Dollar Store robbery went bad an armed gunman grabbed his sister as a hostage, said an Albany Police Department detective.

Police have charged the sister, Jamaica Harris Jones, a clerk at the store, because she knew of and participated in the planned robbery, according to Detective Eddie Jones.

Charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery, Jamaica Harris Jones, 25, was in Dougherty County jail, a jail spokesman said. No bail was set Wednesday, she added.

Jamaica Harris Jones didn't participate willingly as a hostage, said Detective Jones, who is no relation to the accused.

"Once police got there," Jones said. "All bets were off. Her brother took her hostage with a gun to her head."

Randell Harris, Jamaica Jones' brother, and Christopher Raines attempted to rob the Dollar Store at 1030 W. Gordon St. July 12, police say. The robbery was in progress when two Albany police officers arrived on the scene.

Facing two armed robbers, police drew guns. In trying to escape Raines, who was armed with a plastic gun, was shot by Officer Christopher Hutcherson in the stomach.

Harris pointed a real sawed-off shotgun at his hostage sister. Despite his wound, Raines and Harris ran about 200 yards away dropping guns, loot and the hostage before their arrest.

Harris was charged with armed robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault and firearms violations. Charges against Raines are pending his release from a hospital.

The officer shooting remains under investigation, but from what the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has found the shooting was justified, said Mike Lewis, special agent in charge.

Albany police continue to investigate the robbery and would like to talk to Kelvin Jerome Kaylor, 22, as a person of interest in the case.