LEE COUNTY (April 2, 2026) – On February 7, 2026, at approximately 10:40pm CST, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to an armed robbery of the Marathon gas station located in the 16000 block of US Hwy. 280 E. in Smiths Station, AL. Video Surveillance from the scene showed two suspects dressed in dark clothing with faces half-covered confront the clerk at the register. One was armed with a large knife and the other armed with a handgun. The suspects demanded money from the register. The clerk complied with their demands, and both individuals ran out of the store.
Lee County Investigators were able to identify a vehicle in the vicinity of the store at the time of the robbery that was believed to be connected to the suspects. Further investigation revealed a connection to a rental car business in Savannah, GA. Investigators identified Waltnay Jamal Whitfield (32) from Savannah, GA, as the person listed on the rental agreement of the suspect vehicle.
Information was obtained showing that the vehicle was seen on surveillance footage at Wind Creek Casino in Montgomery a few hours before the robbery. The Poarch Creek Tribal Police Department was contacted and provided Lee County Sheriff’s Office Investigators with video showing two individuals inside of the casino that closely resembled the two individuals that committed the robbery. A Robbery 1st Degree warrant was obtained on Whitfield at the time.
On March 24, 2026, members of the United States Marshall Service (USMS) arrested Whitfield in Savannah, GA, on the Robbery 1st Degree warrant.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office Investigators traveled to Savannah on March 25, and with the assistance of Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Savannah Police Department and the USMS, were able to identify Zachary Logan Fox (35) from Nashville, TN, as the other suspect in the robbery. On March 26, Fox was located and arrested at a bus station in Atlanta, GA, and charged with Robbery 1st Degree.
After waiving extradition from Georgia, both individuals were transported to the Lee County Detention Center on April 1, 2026, where they are being held without bond, awaiting an Aniah’s Law hearing.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
