At approximately 8:45 this morning, Tuesday, February 27, 2007, two black males armed with handguns entered the ACE Hardware Store located in the 4500 block of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>Wisconsin Avenue, NW.  Once inside, the suspects robbed the business of an undetermined amount of cash before making good their escape in a vehicle described as an older model white Cadillac. A short time later, a vehicle matching that description was observed in the area of Wisconsin Avenue and Van Ness Street, NW by members of the Second District.  The car, which refused to stop, hit a parked vehicle in the 3400 block of 29th Street, NW, before the two male suspects and a female suspect exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The abandoned suspect vehicle was recovered along with an undetermined amount of cash.

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Officers apprehended one of the male suspects, without incident, at Connecticut Avenue and Newark Street, NW.  He is identified as 33-year-old Lonnell Hart, of the 800 block of 20th Street, NE.   He has been charged with Armed Robbery and was also wanted on  probation violation and traffic bench warrants.

Following a search of the area, officers also apprehended the second male suspect, without incident, in the alley rear of the 2900 block of Ordway Street, NW.  He has been identified as 33-year-old Donnell Hart, of the 1600 block of 30th Street, SE, and also has been charged with Armed Robbery in connection with the ACE Hardware robbery. 

This case remains under investigation by members from the department’s Robbery Task Force as the search continues for the female suspect who may have been operating the vehicle in this case.  At this time she is only described as a black female possibly in her teens. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099.

The Metropolitan Police Department offers a reward of up to TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any armed robbery committed in the District of Columbia.