Virginia Beach, VA — A 46-year-old woman accused of armed robbery in Virginia is now in custody after being tracked to New York, where investigators say she was also identified as the suspect in a Maryland convenience store shooting caught on video. The arrest followed a multi-state investigation involving Virginia Beach Police, Binghamton Police, and authorities in Maryland.
The suspect, Shantay L. O’Donnell of Virginia Beach, was first sought in connection with an April 19 armed robbery on Holland Road, where police say she displayed a weapon, demanded money, and fled with cash. Detectives later secured warrants for two counts of armed robbery and two firearm-related felony charges.
Tracked across state lines using license plate technology
O’Donnell was located on April 21 in the Binghamton, New York area, after her vehicle was flagged through Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems. Investigators with the Binghamton Police Warrant Unit identified the vehicle and confirmed O’Donnell as the registered owner when she approached it.
Officers took her into custody without incident and recovered two illegally possessed handguns from her purse and person.
Linked to Maryland shooting caught on video
During the investigation, Binghamton detectives reviewed surveillance footage released by the Howard County Police Department in Maryland and identified O’Donnell as the suspect in a separate shooting inside a convenience store.
Authorities say she now faces additional felony charges in Maryland, including attempted robbery and attempted murder tied to that incident.
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Key Points
• Virginia Beach robbery suspect arrested in Binghamton, NY after multi-state search
• Police say she possessed two illegal handguns at time of arrest
• Investigators link her to Maryland convenience store shooting caught on video
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Additional charges filed in New York
Following her arrest, O’Donnell was charged in Johnson City, NY with:
- Two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (Class C felonies)
- One count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (Class D felony)
She was arraigned in Broome County and remanded to the Broome County Correctional Facility.
Multi-state extradition pending
O’Donnell is expected to be extradited to both Virginia and Maryland to face charges in those jurisdictions.
Virginia Beach Police credited coordination between agencies and the use of modern tracking technology for the quick arrest.
“Partnerships are vital to ensuring that suspects cannot evade accountability by fleeing the jurisdiction,” the department said, also highlighting the role of ALPR systems in locating the suspect.
Investigation ongoing
Authorities say the investigation remains active across all three states. Anyone with information related to the Virginia Beach case is asked to contact police or submit anonymous tips.
As of now, O’Donnell remains in custody awaiting extradition proceedings.