Minneapolis man convicted in Woodbury jewelry store robbery

A Minneapolis man whose accomplice killed himself while robbing a Woodbury jewelry store was convicted Thursday of first-degree aiding and abetting aggravated robbery.

Erick Larkins, 47, was found guilty by a Washington County jury for his role in the June 2014 robbery of Johnson Jewelry.

Thomas Jones, the accomplice who took a handgun into the store, robbed a "bridal showcase" of its jewelry before committing suicide in the back of the store.

Jones died from a single shot to the head, and a loaded .357-caliber revolver was found next to his body with one discharged bullet. A criminal complaint filed in the case states no reason for his suicide.

Larkins drove Jones from Minneapolis and helped "case" the jewelry store before the robbery, the complaint said.

A Woodbury police officer driving into the shopping complex saw Larkins driving out right before a jewelry store employee signaled for help.

Larkins acted as a lookout for Jones by walking past the store entrance several times to watch for police, the complaint said. The men knew each other from a corner market in Minneapolis and had smoked marijuana together.

"This was an extraordinarily difficult case that was pulled together by the hard work and teamwork of the Woodbury Police Department and this office," said County Attorney Pete Orput.

Larkins is scheduled for sentencing May 10 before District Judge John Hoffman in Stillwater.

Kevin Giles • 651-925-5037