The specter of a brutal robbery, nearly three years past, hangs over three men poised to face the consequences of their actions. Jacqwan Bucknor, Tyreese Brown-Austin, and Dahlison Emile were scheduled to admit guilt this week for their roles in the violent attack on London Gold Buyers, a case that left the store owner fighting for his life.
However, a last-minute snag – a procedural oversight regarding the Attorney General’s consent – has delayed their reckoning until December 2nd. The charges against them are severe: armed robbery, disguise with intent, firearm possession in a vehicle, and possession of stolen property exceeding $5,000. Brown-Austin carries the weight of ten additional counts, including aggravated assault and resisting arrest, painting a picture of escalating violence.
The story began with shocking audacity. On a routine January morning, masked figures descended upon the Highbury Avenue store in a stolen vehicle, shattering the peace with the threat of firearms. An employee was immediately injured, struck by the cold steel of a gun, foreshadowing the terror to come.
Inside, Daniel Loewith, the 56-year-old owner, bravely attempted to defend himself as one of the intruders, later identified as Dejan Stephen, leveled a handgun at him. A single shot ripped through the air, striking Loewith in the torso and unleashing a cascade of critical injuries that would confine him to a hospital bed for months.
While Loewith fought for his life, the robbers systematically dismantled the store, smashing display cases with hammers and greedily collecting jewelry. Employees could only watch, paralyzed by fear, as their workplace was ransacked. A getaway driver waited, ready to vanish with the stolen loot.
But their escape wouldn’t be clean. A discarded cellphone, a seemingly insignificant detail, became the key to their downfall. Police relentlessly tracked the device, even after the group abandoned their initial stolen car for a Honda Civic. The pursuit led them to Zorra Township, where fate intervened in the form of a passing train.
Blocked at a level crossing, the fleeing men attempted a desperate U-turn, only to lose control and plunge their vehicle into a ditch. The scene was a chaotic tableau of desperation and capture. Police recovered $65,000 worth of stolen jewelry, a handgun loaded with 31 rounds, and a stolen Rolex – tangible evidence of their brazen crime.
Dejan Stephen, the man who fired the shot that nearly claimed Loewith’s life, already accepted responsibility, pleading guilty in August 2023 and receiving a seven-year sentence. Now, the remaining three face their moment of truth, their potential guilty pleas hanging in the balance as the case returns to court on December 2nd.
Bucknor, having been granted bail shortly after the robbery, will seek a specialized report addressing potential anti-Black racism in sentencing. Brown-Austin and Emile, currently in custody, have indicated they will not present evidence at sentencing, suggesting a willingness to accept the consequences. The absence of victim impact statements speaks to the profound and lasting trauma inflicted upon Loewith and his staff.
