Robbery victim left unconscious in van

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - Newport News Police have arrested a couple accused of assaulting, abducting and robbing an acquaintance Monday.

According to Holly McPherson with the Newport News Police Department, officers responded to the Shell Station located at 12089 Jefferson Ave. Tuesday around 9 a.m. for a report of a robbery from a person.

There, the 48-year-old victim, suffering from a black eye and other visible injuries, told police he was with a female acquaintance at a Self Storage facility at 300 Bell King Rd. Monday night when they were approached by a man he knew with a handgun. The victim said he was punched and kicked by both suspects, who have been identified as 34-year-old Leslie D. Gilliam and 22-year-old Eric F. Edwards.

"It's a pretty sad incident because the lady that was involved in this incident is well-known to the victim and he had befriended her," Newport News detective L.D. LeGrand said. 

During the assault, the victim was dragged into his van where the beating continued. Eventually, the victim was driven to an area bank and the suspects obtained money from his account at an ATM, according to police.

LeGrand said the victim had been drinking that evening and had been taken advantage of by the two suspects. 

After the money was stolen, McPherson said the suspects drove the victim back to the storage unit and left him unconscious. He woke hours later and contacted police.

10 On Your Side spoke with Gilliam's mother.