Mat Heck, Jr., Prosecuting Attorney Comments – Phillips & Perdue indictment 10/4/2007

In the early afternoon on August 21, 2007 these defendants entered the Covault Grocery and Meat Market at 3705 Wayne Avenue intending to commit a robbery – both defendants had handguns and were wearing masks and gloves.  During the commission of this robbery, the defendants held store owner Roger Covault and an employee, Robert Harris, at gunpoint. Soon after entering, defendant Phillips gunned down both Mr. Harris and Mr. Covault.  (Neither defendant had the opportunity to steal any cash before they shot their victims to death and tried to flee the scene.) 

The defendants fled, and ran to nearby Coventry Road where an armed neighbor confronted the pair, after hearing the gunshots coming from inside the store.  Defendant Phillips was apprehended by the citizen, but Perdue fled.  Approximately an hour later, Defendant Perdue was arrested at Phillips’ house. 

The Montgomery County Grand Jury has indicted 20 year old MICHAEL A. PERDUE for 7 counts:

2 counts of Aggravated Robbery (F-1),

2 counts of Kidnapping (F-1),

2 counts of Murder (UNCL),

1 count of Tampering with Evidence (F-3)

(Three year) Firearm Specifications are included on many of the charges. 

Additionally, 18 year old BRANDON R. PHILLIPS has been indicted for 8 counts:

2 counts of Aggravated Robbery (F-1),

2 counts of Kidnapping (F-1),

4 counts of Aggravated Murder (UNCL)

(Three year) Firearm Specifications are included on all charges and Aggravating Circumstance Specifications are added to each Aggravated Murder count, which makes defendant Phillips eligible for the death penalty.

This was truly a tragic event.  The victims, Roger Covault and Robert Harris, worked in the neighborhood for years and knew many of the residents and customers that frequented the store, including the defendants.  These two defendants have forever changed the lives of the families of the victims as well as the peaceful neighborhood where this double homicide took place. 

The death penalty is not something we ask for in many cases.  We reserve it for the most violent, senseless, and vicious crimes, and these victims were in fact violently, senselessly and viciously gunned down.

The defendants are currently being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1 million bond.  Arraignment is set for Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 8:30 AM.

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