Two Michigan truck drivers are facing serious charges following a violent attack and robbery at a Pennsylvania comic book store that occurred over a year ago, leaving the store owner with multiple injuries. Zackery Maximus Tucker, 22, of Quincy, and Caleb James-Lorenze Simpson, 35, of Clarklake, are the men accused of the brutal crime which took place in September 2022 at the Comic Collection store in Bucks County.
The duo reportedly entered the store under the guise of seeking assistance, but when the unsuspecting owner climbed a ladder to help them with merchandise, he was pushed to the ground and viciously attacked. "Tucker and Simpson allegedly pushed him off the ladder and started to beat him," the Bucks County District Attorney's Office stated, as mentioned in a FOX 2 report. They proceeded to bind the owner with zip ties and inflicted further harm by punching him in the face with brass knuckles, WWJ Newsradio 950 disclosed.
Following the assault, Simpson and Tucker allegedly filled duffel bags with stolen goods including comic books, Pokémon cards, action figures, a laptop, the victim’s keys, and cash before fleeing, leaving behind the owner to be discovered tied up and severely injured. The victim was treated for "numerous contusions, lacerations, and broken ribs," as per the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.
For months, the investigation into the robbery hit a wall until a tip received in December 2023 led the authorities to Simpson and Tucker. This breakthrough came after Simpson's run-in with the law when he was arrested for an unrelated alleged attempt to steal a firearm, which happened mere weeks after the heist in Pennsylvania. This incident unveiled photographs linking both Simpson and Tucker to the crime scene, with evidence of a DNA match for Simpson to the items left behind came from the Pennsylvania State Police crime lab, Patch reported.
Tucker has since been arraigned on various charges including robbery, aggravated assault, and unlawful restraint, facing a $300,000 bond. Meanwhile, Simpson is in custody awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania to answer for his alleged role in the violent ordeal that shook a community and left one man physically and undoubtedly emotionally scarred.
