By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

Salisbury Police are looking for a local man they say robbed someone at gunpoint and then returned the victim’s wallet.

The victim, Kendrick Connor, told police he was going to visit his uncle on Sunday evening. The uncle, who lived on Green Street, was not home, so Connor made his way to his pickup. Connor was approached by a man who he knew as Little Grench or Leon.

The victim said he’d seen a group of men gathered at a home nearby, but he gave it no further thought, nor did he stop to talk. Police said the man known as Little Grench, later identified as Lonnie Ray Carpenter Jr., made small talk with Connor about dogs.

Police said once Connor tried to get into his truck, Carpenter came up behind him with a semi-automatic handgun and said, “get it.”

Connor handed over his wallet and cell phone. Connor contacted his wife to tell her he’d just been robbed. She told Connor his wallet and cell phone had been returned to his uncle with everything except the $300 he had in it.

According to Connor’s wife, the suspect said “he didn’t want any trouble.”

Police say Carpenter, 27, is 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighs 155 pounds. He lives in the 800 block of Green Street.

Carpenter has been convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a concealed weapon, simple possession of marijuana, assault on a female, misdemeanor breaking and entering, larceny, felony possession of a schedule II substance, conspiracy to sell a schedule II substance, simple assault, assault on a government official.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Lonnie Ray Carpenter is asked to contact the Salisbury Police at 704-638-5333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245. Calls can be made anonymously.