Teen arrested for armed robbery in convenience store parking lot

A 15-year-old was arrested in connection with an armed robbery that occurred Thursday night in a convenience store parking lot.

According to Sgt. Barry Hovis of the Cape Girardeau police, a store patron told police was approached by three young males while getting out of his car at 1101 William St.

They appeared to be ages 15 to 17, he said.

One of the teenagers brandished what appeared to be a semiautomatic handgun and demanded some money, the victim said.

Another of the males ordered the gunman to just shoot the victim, at which point the man managed to deflect the weapon and escape in his vehicle, Hovis said.

He drove straight to the police station and reported the incident.

Police went to the scene, and found a male, 15, fitting the description the victim gave of one of the alleged assailants, walking on the road just south of the store, about 10 minutes later. They searched him and located a black BB gun.

Police continue to investigate in hopes of locating the other two suspects. The juvenile was cited into juvenile court in connection with first-degree robbery and armed criminal action.

Armed criminal action charges include any weapons readily capable of lethal use, even BB guns, Hovis said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245