Darwin says, "Accepted into the Archive. If this isn't a Darwin Award, what is? The paint can is clearly labelled, do not get on skin, do not get in eyes, toxic to inhale."

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Richland County deputies say a man spray-painted his face in order to disguise himself during a robbery, but died after the robbery from inhaling the fumes.

Sheriff Leon Lott says on July 31 at around 7:00pm 23-year-old Michael Gregory Thomas and 24-year-old Thomas James entered the Sprint PCS store on Sparkleberry Lane, pulled out a guns and demanded money.

Lott says the two men stole wallets, purses and credit cards from employees as well as money from the store before ordering the employees into a bathroom while both men fled.

Lott says Thomas James spray-painted his face in order to conceal his identity during the robbery. Investigators later learned that after the robbery took place, James began having trouble breathing and died.

Witnesses from the store identified Michael Thomas as one of the robbers, and Thomas was arrested on August 17, taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and charged with armed robbery.

The State, South Carolina's Home Page
August 22, 2009 - 1 Front Page
Was golden disguise a death mask?, BIZARRE ROBBERY

They apparently thought they could hide their identities by spraypainting their faces gold, Richland County sheriff's deputies said. But one of the two men who targeted the Sprint PCS store on Sparkleberry Lane last month died a short time after the armed robbery - possibly from the paint fumes, deputies said Friday. Deputies identified the dead robber as Thomas James, 23. His last known address was in Columbia, court records show.

Submitted on 08/21/2009

Submitted by: Ashley Murphy
Reference: http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10973100

Copyright © 2009 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Well that's certainly a novel way of trying to disguise yourself. It sort of reminds me of the movie Goldfinger. Thanks, Ashley!

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Definitely weird. Thanks, Ashley!

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