Raleigh Teen Robs Two Pharmacies, Steals $16K in Xanax, Caught After Armed Standoff
RALEIGH, NC – A string of alarming robberies of pharmacies in Raleigh ended Monday morning with the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect accused of threatening staff with a semi-automatic gun and stealing more than 1,400 Xanax pills—valued at over $16,000.
Two Armed Robberies in Four Days
Zach Dennis Eris St. Laurent, 18, was arrested early Monday morning (May 19) after Raleigh police responded to a 5:14 a.m. call about an armed robbery at the CVS Pharmacy located at 2411 Landmark Drive. Officers found and apprehended St. Laurent near the scene.
Following his arrest, investigators linked St. Laurent to an earlier robbery that took place on Friday at the Walgreens Pharmacy at 4309 Wake Forest Road. According to court documents, he is accused of stealing more than 1,400 Xanax pills and threatening staff with a semi-automatic pistol.
Stolen BMW, Concealed Gun & Charges
Court records also reveal that St. Laurent stole a BMW from a home on Village Springs Road the night before the CVS robbery.
He now faces the following charges:
- Two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon
- Carrying a concealed gun
- Possession of stolen vehicle (BMW)
Pharmacists Alarmed Despite Heightened Security
While most pharmacies have adopted modern security tools, including time-delayed safes, enhanced surveillance, and alert systems, local pharmacists remain uneasy.
Senthil Radhakrishanan, a Raleigh pharmacist, said, “It’s being shared in our friends’ groups… ‘Oh, this happened to me,’ or, ‘This happened to my friends.’”
Radhakrishanan emphasized that the threat extends beyond Wake County:
“If not in Raleigh, it might happen in Greensboro. It might happen in Charlotte, or it might happen out of state.”
Conclusion
The arrest has brought temporary relief, but the case underscores growing concerns about the safety of pharmacy staff amid increasing armed robberies for prescription drugs. The investigation remains ongoing, and more charges may be filed.