A Brooklyn man was arrested Wednesday for trying to rob a pharmacy and stabbing a staffer who didn’t open the register fast enough, officials said.
Detectives and agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tracked down Rayvaughn Williams, 24, after the August attack using surveillance footage, cellphone tower and Metrocard records.
On Aug. 12 at about 12:40 p.m., Williams allegedly entered the Canarsie Plaza Pharmacy in Flatlands, claiming he was there to pick up a prescription, according to the complaint.
Williams then allegedly pulled a knife from a plastic bag, brandished it at the employee and demanded cash.
When the staffer failed to open the register, Williams sprang over the counter and allegedly stabbed the man several times, seriously wounding him, then fled, Brooklyn federal court papers charge.
The assault was captured on surveillance video and shows Williams, wearing a white T-shirt, blue shorts, a hydration backpack and purple Nike tennis shoes.
During the investigation, authorities obtained additional surveillance footage from the neighborhood and were able to trace the attacker’s movements prior to the attempted robbery.
Officials obtained MTA surveillance video that showed the assailant using his debit card to purchase a Metrocard at 8:40 a.m at a Flatbush Avenue subway station the day of the attempted robbery.
About three hours later, Williams then used the Metrocard purchased that morning to board the B6 bus.
The bus’s internal camera depicted Williams exiting at 12:25 p.m. a few blocks from the pharmacy. Using cell tower records and surveillance footage pieced together from several storefronts, investigators were able to map the path William took to the pharmacy.
Bolstering the identification, Williams allegedly posted several photos of himself in December wearing the same distinct purple tennis shoes he had on during the alleged crime.
Williams was on supervised release at the time of the attack for a prior robbery conviction, authorities said.