An East Hills felon admitted Wednesday to a slew of federal charges in connection with a violent March 2022 crime spree during which police say he robbed four stores and shot two employees.
Eric Jones, 34, pleaded guilty in federal court to robbery, discharging a gun during a violent crime and possession of a gun by a felon following an investigation by police and federal agents.
He’s facing at least 17 years in federal prison and could get life.
Jones robbed or tried to rob four businesses in the eastern suburbs and in Pittsburgh using a .25-caliber pistol. He robbed the first one, Fox’s Pizza in Oakmont, on March 6, and shot the owner in the chest, stomach and legs. The man survived but suffered serious injuries.
On March 10, Jones robbed the Sunoco on Hulton Road in Verona and pointed a gun at the head of an employee.
He next robbed the Family Dollar in Homewood on March 15 and fired his gun but didn’t hit anyone.
A half-hour later, he tried to rob the Edgewood Avenue Express in Edgewood. He demanded money, and the owner refused. Jones shot the owner once in the stomach. He tried to shoot him again, but his gun jammed. The victim was not seriously hurt.
Allegheny County police and ATF agents arrested Jones on March 19 in the Hill District, where he was hiding out at a residence on Devilliers Street. Agents and police recovered the gun used in the crimes as well as the bomber jacket Jones wore in the Edgewood robbery, which was captured on video.
Jones will be sentenced in November.
Torsten covers the courts for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Reach him at jtorsteno@gmail.com.
