Armed robbery at Smiths Station Dollar General ends in arrest minutes later
LIVE NOW
- Georgia woman arrested minutes after armed robbery at Dollar General in Smiths Station on May 29, 2026.
- Suspect had six outstanding felony warrants including armed robbery and firearm possession charges; gun and $300 recovered.
A Georgia woman is facing charges after an armed robbery Friday afternoon at a Dollar General in Smiths Station, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The robbery was reported around 1:12 p.m. central time on Friday, May 29, 2026, at the Dollar General located on Lee Road 246.
According to investigators, witnesses told deputies that a female suspect entered the store, brandished a silver revolver-style handgun, and stole approximately $300 from the cash register.
After leaving the store, witnesses reportedly observed the suspect run to nearby bushes where she changed clothes before running farther down the road and getting into a pink-and-white taxi that left the area heading toward Phenix City.
Minutes later, Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies located the taxi traveling on Lee Road 246 near Lee Road 226 and conducted a traffic stop.
Investigators said U.S. currency and a silver-colored handgun were seen in plain view inside the vehicle. Deputies also recovered the discarded clothing from the bushes near the original crime scene.
Authorities identified the suspect as 44-year-old Shwanda Perrie Kelly of Columbus, Georgia. Kelly was taken into custody while a male subject was also detained for questioning.
During the investigation, authorities discovered Kelly allegedly has six outstanding felony warrants through the Columbus Police Department, including two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts of armed robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Kelly has been charged by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office with robbery in the first degree. She is currently being held in the Lee County Detention Center without bond pending an Aniah’s Law hearing. Officials say additional charges are expected.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
Related stories
CrimeOPD: Police investigating shooting in Opelika; road closed
Crime & SafetyMISSING PERSON: Chambers County Sheriff’s Office searching for 35-year-old woman
WeatherHarris County football game rescheduled; Central vs. Smiths Station kickoff moved up due to Hurricane Isaias
LocalLee County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant faces long road to recovery after cancer battle
WeatherMagnitude 2.2 earthquake reported in Meriwether County, Georgia