14-year-old armed robbery suspect arrested after pursuit, school lockdowns

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two schools were put on lockdown in the Hidden Valley neighborhood Friday afternoon as police searched for a person wanted for armed robbery.

A 14-year-old boy was taken into custody after a search near Hidden Valley Elementary School in northeast Charlotte.

Students at Hidden Valley Elementary School and MLK Middle School were let out of school more than an hour after they were supposed to be released.

“They did exactly what should've been done, especially when you've got a lot of kids here and something's going on,” grandmother Charlene Meyers said.

Some parents told Channel 9 they weren’t informed, while others waited outside the school for the lockdown to be lifted.

Police said that two male students left Cochrane Collegiate Academy around 2:36 p.m. and were walking on Starhaven Drive to go to a nearby store when a stolen Jeep Cherokee occupied by at least two individuals pulled up behind them.

The 14-year-old jumped out of the stolen car and attempt to rob one of the students at gunpoint.

Officers located the suspect's vehicle, and after a short pursuit, the person jumped out of the car and ran on Snow White Lane behind the elementary school.

A juvenile female was detained and released without being charged. The 14-year-old was arrested after he broke into a home on Thornwood Road and attempted to hide from officers, police said.

Police seized the weapon.

“They want to make sure the robber did not run into the building,” parent Mvisi Olando said. “I feel better because everybody’s safe.”

The 14-year-old, whose name will not be released because of his age, is charged with armed robbery, hit and run, misdemeanor breaking and entering, possession of a firearm by a minor, possession of firearms on school grounds, flee to elude and resist/obstruct/delay.

Channel 9 was at the scene where K-9 and Snoopy were searching.

Parents said they are glad the children are safe.

“Once I found out the school is safe and the kids are on lockdown, it worked out pretty well,” a parent said.

The Jeep Cherokee was stolen Thursday morning on Montego Drive.

Police said a 35-year-old woman parked her vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot when she was assaulted by a male who punched her in the face, forcibly took her car keys and then stole the vehicle.

The man who originally stole the vehicle in that robbery has not been yet been identified and that case is still under investigation, police said.

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