CINCINNATI — A federal grand jury Wednesday charged two men in connection with a string of armed robberies that took place earlier this year across Southwest Ohio, including one that left the owner of a Madeira convenience store dead.

Thirty-year-old Willie James Attaway and 35-year-old Lamond Johnson, both of Cincinnati, face 14 counts in connection to five armed robberies that occurred on Feb. 8 and 9, 2021, according to acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Vipal J. Patel:

• Feb. 8: Shell station on Montgomery Road in Deerfield Township;
• Feb. 8: Shell station on Dixie Highway in Hamilton;
• Feb. 9: Madeira Beverage on Kenwood Road in Madeira;
• Feb. 9: Sunoco station on Kenwood Road in Blue Ash; and
• Feb. 9: Marathon station on North Broadway in Lebanon.

According to the indictments, the two men brandished a firearm to commit these robberies. In the Feb. 9 robbery of Madeira Beverage, the incident resulted in the shooting death of owner Roop C. Gupta, Patel said.

The 14-count indictment includes murder charges for both Attaway and Johnson in Gupta's death. Johnson already had faced local charges in Gupta's death, but Patel said these federal charges will supersede the local indictment.

"Using a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence is potentially punishable by the death penalty," Patel said in a news release Thursday.

MADEIRA, Ohio — The owner of Madeira Beverage was shot and killed in his store Tuesday night, and police said the suspect is still at large.

Officers responded to Madeira Beverage on the 6000 block of Kenwood Road for a report of a person shot just before 8 p.m., Madeira Police Chief David Schaefer said.

Police found the owner, 68-year-old Roop Gupta, with a single gunshot wound. Gupta was rushed to UC Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

The suspected gunman, who may be armed with a semi-automatic weapon, stands 6 feet tall, weighs 240 pounds and was wearing black clothes with a red face mask, Schaefer said. It's unclear if anything was taken from the store, and police are now looking through surveillance video.

"It appears that they did leave in a vehicle," Schaefer said. "We believe it’s an isolated incident. There’s no safety concern for residents of Madeira or the surrounding communities.”

Tuesday was the second time Gupta was shot inside the store. In September 2012, authorities said William Hart shot Gupta in the stomach multiple times during a robbery. Gupta was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. His wife was also working when the store was robbed, and police said she was thrown against a wine cellar, according to a 2012 WCPO report.

Hart was arrested during a routine traffic stop in Golf Manor a few days later, and he was later convicted on several charges including aggravated robbery and felonious assault.

MADEIRA, Ohio —

A gun used in the slaying of a Madeira business owner was found in the vehicle driven by a man arrested on Sunday, police said.

Lamond Johnson, 35, was arrested on unrelated charges Sunday. Investigators with the Madeira Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were attempting to find Johnson, who is a person of interest in a robbery that left a 68-year-old store owner dead in February.

Officials with the Maderia Police Department said during Johnson's arrest, authorities found a handgun inside of the vehicle he was driving.

That handgun was used in the slaying of 68-year-old Roop Gupta on Feb. 9, police said. Johnson does not face charges in Gupta's slaying.

"It was a senseless crime, and we're trying to bring whoever did it to justice," Madeira police Chief David Schaefer said. "There's still a lot of work that has to be done. We're a lot further along than we were on Feb. 9th."

Schaefer said Johnson is expected to be charged in the robbery and homicide. He believes one additional person was involved in the crime.

Johnson is jailed at the Hamilton County Justice Center on unrelated charges of felonious assault, receiving stolen property and obstructing official business.

"The Murder of Mr. Gupta is a tragedy for all involved," a statement from the Madeira Police Department reads. "We know the public wants to know more, which is why we are moving quickly to continue our investigation. We will provide as much information as we can when it is appropriate to do so. It is imperative that we protect the integrity of this investigation to help the Gupta family receive justice for this senseless act and bring a feeling of security to our Madeira community. We are assuring all available resources from our local and federal law enforcement partners are focused on successfully resolving this case in a manner that achieves a conviction."

Madeira police said on Feb. 9, a man walked into Madeira Beverage on Kenwood Road, attempted to rob it and then shot the owner Roop Gupta, 68, to death.

Madeira police said the suspect is a black man, approximately 6 feet tall and weighing 240 to 250 pounds. Police said he was wearing black pants, a black jacket with a hood and a red face mask. They said he was last seen leaving the scene northbound on Kenwood Road in a dark-colored vehicle.

Madeira residents said Gupta wasn't just a respected business owner, but he and was their neighbor and friend.

"Roop and his family have been wonderful people. We would bring the kids here for snacks or candy on the way home from a soccer game. I would stop in for the milk when I ran out. My husband, every week, would get a bottle of wine," said customer Heidi Welti.

Gupta and his family also lived in Madeira. They lived in a home attached to the store. His son heard his dad scream Tuesday night and called 911.

Anyone having information about this incident should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477) or LT. Paul Phillips of the Madeira Police Department at 513-272-4214. Individuals may also email ATFTips@atf.gov, or contact ATF through its website here.

CINCINNATI — Prosecutors claim a man arrested this month for pointing a gun at a federal agent is also responsible for the Feb. 9 murder of Roop Gupta, a Madeira convenience store owner shot dead at work during a robbery.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters announced Wednesday that 35-year-old Lamond Johnson now faces 13 charges in connection to the two incidents — murder and aggravated murder the most serious among them. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

According to Deters, Johnson committed two robberies on the night of Gupta’s death: One at Madeira Beverage, where Gupta was shot and killed, and another at a Sunoco gas station in Blue Ash.

Johnson evaded identification and capture for nearly a month afterward. Madeira neighbors raised money for Gupta’s family and mourned the store-owner, who had been shot once before while working.

“How could this happen?” said Heidi Welti, a neighbor who raised money for the Gupta family both times. “Here’s a wonderful guy. He’s supporting his family. All he’s trying to do is make a living.”

On March 7, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempted to stop Johnson’s car. He fled and intentionally struck an ATF vehicle with an agent inside, according to Deters; reports that day indicate he also pointed a gun at the agent.

That gun ultimately linked him to the Madeira shooting, Deters said. Analysts confirmed it had been used in the attack on Gupta.

“My thoughts are with Mr. Gupta’s family, and the entire Madeira community,” Deters wrote in a news release on Wednesday. “I am thankful to the Cincinnati Police Department, the Madeira Police Department, and the ATF for the work they put into putting an end to this crime spree. Our community is safer today because of their hard work.”