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2 teens arrested for ATM robberyTue, 07/24/2007 - 4:26pm
By: John Munford
Fayetteville Police have arrested two teens for robbing another teen at gunpoint near the Bank of America ATM at the Banks Station shopping center late Friday night, police said. Court officials have decided to charge the 16-year-old who participated in the robbery as an adult. Jamel Devon Ellis, 16, will he tried along with the alleged gunman, identified as Rikeem Mashad Byrd, 17, of Red Ivy Lane in the River’s Edge subdivision of Clayton County, police said. The victim had pulled $10 out from the ATM moments before he was approached by Byrd, who first demanded the victim’s money, shortly before 11 p.m., said Lt. Beverly Trainor. The victim, who was 16 and on his bike, initially said he didn’t have any money, but he handed over a $10 bill after Byrd pulled out a handgun and the other suspect blocked an escape path, Trainor said. Minutes after the incident and before the victim reported the incident, a Fayetteville police officer stopped and spoke with a group of six teens nearby, inquiring about their activity and reminding them of the impending curfew, Trainor said. At the time, the officer heard a metallic sound on the ground and after the officer let the kids go on their way, he looked around the area and found the gun underneath a parked car, Trainor said. The officer told the teens to return so he could talk to them, and they all started to run, Trainor said. Meanwhile, the victim spoke with an off-duty officer on a security detail at the nearby Movies 10 to report the robbery, Trainor said. Another officer who was at the Chick-fil-A restaurant provided immediate assistance and police ultimately captured five of the six teens right away, Trainor said. A manhunt ensued for the sixth teen, Byrd, who was arrested on foot near Gilbert Road, Trainor said. When police found Byrd he had a $10 bill in his pocket, which police believe was the same $10 bill that was taken from the victim, Trainor said. Byrd and the juvenile who was arrested in connection with the incident was in the group of six people initially questioned by the first officer, but police later determined that the other four people were not involved with the robbery, Trainor said. One of the suspects initially took the victim’s cell phone, but after the victim handed over the $10, the cell phone was returned to him, Trainor said. Byrd and the juvenile, also a male, were charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault. Byrd was also charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and two counts of obstructing a police officer while the juvenile was also charged with being a party to a crime and obstruction of a police officer. login to post comments |