The victim in a daytime armed robbery Monday that has resulted in the arrest of Leroy R. Hassell Jr. said this evening that he was able to identify Hassell through Facebook images and that Hassell is the man who struck him in the head with the butt of a handgun.
Chong Mounce, 24, of the 2100 block of Libbie Avenue, still bruised from multiple blows from a metal rod and a gun, said he believes he was singled out for attack because he has a reputation for carrying large sums of money and dresses well.
He said he was able to tell authorities that he believes Hassell was one of two men who pushed their way into his home because he recognized Hassell’s picture on a friend’s Facebook page.
"With the technology we have these days, everyone is connected," Mounce said.
Hassell was arrested this morning in the armed home invasion case, Henrico County police said.
Hassell, a son of Chief Justice Leroy R. Hassell Sr. of the Virginia Supreme Court, was arrested about 6:30 a.m. in the 7000 block of Hunt Club Lane, off Glenside Drive in western Henrico, said police Lt. Eric Owens. Hassell, 23, is charged with armed robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Henrico Police said today that Hassell is facing charges of armed robbery and use of a firearm in connection with a home invasion Monday afternoon in the 2100 block of Libbie Avenue.
Owens said that police responded to a call at 2:45 p.m. Monday after a report that two men forced their way into the Libbie Avenue address and struck the occupant, first with a baton and then in the head with a handgun.
The two men collected varioius items from the home and fled, police said.
Owens said police could not immediately say what led them to the Hunt Club Lane address. Authorities, he added, are still trying to locate the second suspect.
Hassell was cooperative in responding to questions, Owens said. He was being held without bond in the Henrico County Jail and is scheduled for a Friday court appearance.
In December 2007, Hassell was sentenced to 16 months in jail for falsifying records for forgery and probation violation.
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