'Dougherty Gang' Texts Mom: 'There's a Time for All of Us to Die'
Police are still on the hunt for three siblings labeled the “Dougherty gang” on charges of robbery and shooting at an officer during a high-speed chase.
Two brothers, Ryan Edward Dougherty, 21, and Dylan Dougherty Stanley, 26, and their sister Lee Grace E. Dougherty, 29, have all been identified as suspects who were on the run since August 2.
Officer Kevin Widner first reported the crime when the three were found speeding through a suburban neighborhood in Zephryhills, Fla. Attempting to pull the siblings over, Widner was led to a 5-mile high-speed chase that reached up to 100 mph, according to CBS News.
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Two of the siblings in the car fired around 20 shots or more at the officer, who luckily escaped any injuries. He lost the trio when one of the shots gave the police car a flat tire. The Zephryhills police released a video of the chase showing a white sedan speeding away.
Then, just a few hours after the chase, the trio robbed a bank in Valdosta, Ga., about 210 miles away from the Florida neighborhood.
“We know that Ryan several years ago purchased an AK-47 at a pawn shop,” Sheriff Chris Nocco of Pasco County said, according to ABC. “We know his brother, Dylan, also purchased several high-caliber rifles and handguns.”
“We were also informed by family members that they do have a large arsenal and when we searched the house, there were no weapons or any ammunition left so we know they took them with them.”
The weapons were used during the robbery as the trio fired shots into the ceiling and ordered everyone to get down on the floor. They fled with an unknown amount of money into the same white sedan.
The police and FBI are using electronic billboards displaying photos of the gang in search of the dangerous trio.
Among themselves, the siblings have at least 20 felony charges, including hit-and-run battery, drug charges, and sexual misconduct, reported CBS.
“We want to reiterate to the Dougherty family, we want you to turn yourselves in, we want a peaceful resolution, but at the same time we understand if they want to battle with us, we have the resources and we will win,” Nocco warned, as reported by ABC.
“They have no fear of shooting anybody and so that is the one thing we want to make sure the public understands, that these are three violent individuals.”
Their mother, Barbara Bell, however wants to continue believing that her children are good individuals.
“I love all my children very much,” she told The Associated Press. “Although they’ve done some very bad things, no one has been physically injured yet. I would encourage my children to turn themselves in.”
Bell also shared with WFTS-TV, “Only mom knows what good people you are inside. Please prove me right and everybody wrong by doing the right thing now and turning yourselves in.”
As a week has passed without any surrender, however, their mother is afraid the end might not be very peaceful.
“It’s going to be a violent ending unless you catch them by surprise,” Brad Garrett, a former FBI agent said on ABC.
Authorities revealed that the children have been in contact with their mother. They purportedly sent her a text that read: “There’s a time for all of us to die.”
The three were last seen in Chattanooga, Tenn. Anyone who has seen or knows the whereabouts of the three are being asked to call authorities and the FBI.
