‘Scream’ suspects identified

Waynesboro police have arrested one of two men suspected of terrorizing and robbing a woman while wearing horror-movie masks.

The accomplice is next, authorities said.

“We certainly rattled the windows and shook the neighborhood,” police spokesman Sgt. Kelly Walker said Tuesday. “Enough that he knows we’re looking for him.”

Authorities arrested Eric Tyrone Howard, 22, of Waynesboro, on firearm and robbery charges Monday after receiving reports that he’d committed a robbery for the second time in three days, this time without his mask, police said.

Authorities are seeking Jonathan Antwan Rucker, 21, of Waynesboro, whom Howard named as his accomplice, according to court documents.

Authorities said they received a call Saturday night from a Waynesboro man who claimed Howard rolled up along Seybert Avenue in a sport utility vehicle, brandished a handgun and walked away with more than $200.

The second victim recognized Howard absent his mask, police said.

It was the break police needed.

Authorities said they linked Howard to the Oct. 8 home invasion, in which he and an accomplice threatened a woman with a gun in the 1100 block of New Hope Road and robbed her. Howard “confessed to robbing the residence” and named Rucker as his accomplice, according to a search warrant.

Authorities found more help from an informant, who saw Rucker with two “Scream” masks on the day of the robbery, according to the warrant. Police searched for the masks and a stolen purse in Rucker’s apartment in the 1600 block of New Hope Road.

Police recovered evidence, including a revolver they say was used in both crimes, during their arrest of Howard.

Rucker faces robbery and firearm charges.

In the past two years authorities charged Rucker and Howard for petty thefts, according to court records.