'Call of Duty' backpack helps ID suspect in Germantown 7-Eleven armed robbery

A fascination with one of the world's most popular video games led a wanted armed robbery suspect into the hands of the Montgomery County Police Department.

On May 19 — around 2:45 p.m. — a man stormed into the 7-Eleven along the 12800 block of Clopper Road, black semi-automatic pistol in hand. The suspect demanded the on-duty clerk empty two cash registers, netting $500.

Investigators pulled the store’s surveillance video and quickly noticed the suspect was touting a black drawstring backpack with the words "Call of Duty: Black Ops" written in white letters. The suspect was also seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black ski mask, dark shorts and New Balance tennis shoes.

On May 21, Montgomery County Police issued a public alert, which included a still photo and color video of the suspect holding the 7-Eleven clerk at gunpoint. By the following day, five anonymous tipsters had reported a young man by the name of Logan Lawson to police.

Video from Montgomery County Police:

A check of law enforcement databases showed the 21-year-old lived .3 miles away from the 7-Eleven. He also matched the suspect's dimensions of 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds.

Investigators later learned that the suspect's Call of Duty backpack was a "special gift" given to GameStop customers who pre-ordered the latest version of the video game between May 17 and May 20. Police visited the GameStop store along Middlebrook Road in Germantown. An employee there stated he had a "digital record" of Lawson ordering Call of Duty on May 17; case closed for detectives.

Montgomery County Police have previously arrested Lawson on a variety of charges, including, robbery, second-degree assault, theft, possession of a concealed weapon and possession of forged currency. Records show the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office dropped five of Lawson's six prior criminal cases. No explanation was immediately available.

According to court documents, Lawson lived with his father and worked as a manager at a hot dog-themed eatery in downtown Bethesda up until his arrest on May 25.

Lawson, who remains in custody, is scheduled to appear in Montgomery County District Court on June 22 for a preliminary hearing. He faces more than 45 years in prison on charges of armed robbery, first-degree assault and the use of a firearm during a violent felony.