Teens at Charlotte gas station stole his car. Victim shot at 1 who had gun, cops say
Police on Saturday announced the arrests of five teenagers in connection with a carjacking at a west Charlotte gas station.
The driver left his keys in the ignition and an AK-47 rifle in his car when he entered a gas station in the 500 block of Little Rock Road in west Charlotte around 9:40 a.m. Thursday, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department news release.
Several teens quickly entered the car to try to steal it, but the driver saw them and came outside the station to stop them, police said.
When one of the teens flashed a gun, the driver shot at him with another of his weapons, a handgun he was carrying, according to police. The assailants then drove away, in the victim’s Chevy Impala and in a Mercury Mountaineer SUV.
Police spotted the SUV at about noon, stopped the vehicle at Freedom Drive and Thrift Road and detained those inside.
Two 15-year-olds, two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old were arrested and jailed on robbery and larceny charges. One of the 16-year-olds also was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a handgun by a minor. All are males.
No injuries were reported.
CMPD’s Real Time Crime Center, which uses cameras and license plate readers to spot vehicles suspected in crimes, helped patrol officers and CMPD’s Snoopy helicopter find the Impala and SUV.
Police ask that anyone with information about the case call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
This story was originally published January 18, 2020 at 1:47 PM.