BY GAYLA CAWLEY
LYNN — Linden Market was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday.
Derek Ladderbush, 31, of Lynn, allegedly walked into the Summer Street store at about 2 p.m. Finding nobody at the counter, he opened the cash register to take out money, Lynn Police Lt. Rick Donnelly said.
The 52-year-old clerk heard something, so he picked up a chair, held it over his head and told the suspect to leave, Donnelly said.
Ladderbush then pulled out a handgun and said, “I’ll kill you.” The clerk dropped the chair and ran out of the store to call police, Donnelly said.
Ladderbush fled the store on foot with an undetermined amount of cash and made his way up Summer Street towards the railroad tracks. The suspect’s description was given out and officers found him at the intersection of Ashland and Summer streets. He had been described as a white man wearing a red shirt, jeans and a black backpack, Donnelly said.
Ladderbush was arrested and charged with armed robbery and on a warrant, about 10 minutes after the robbery. He had been positively identified by the clerk. The $69 cash found on him was seized. But the victim was unsure how much money Ladderbush was able to get out of the cash register, Donnelly said.
Police haven’t recovered the handgun or backpack, but said the items could be on train tracks near where Ladderbush was detained. Officers are searching the area, Donnelly said.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.
