Teens in custody after crashing stolen car, escaping into grocery store, CMPD says

CHARLOTTE — Four people are in custody after a stolen car linked to an armed carjacking and shooting crashed in east Charlotte, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Witnesses told Channel 9 after a car with four teenagers inside crashed around 10 a.m. Thursday, along Idlewild Road near Monroe Road, three of teens inside ran into a grocery store.

Police said they had tried to pull the car over but it drove off, leading officers on a pursuit. They said the four suspects ran from the car after it crashed.

At the scene, Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura could see a purple sedan appeared to have driven onto the sidewalk, hitting shrubbery in the process. He could also see yellow police tape in the distance as well several police officers.

People who live and work in the area had a lot of questions.

Viewer video shows a large police response outside an Aldi grocery store. Mike Bunch said he was working next door and saw the officers pull up with their guns in hand.

“They came hauling in, yes sir, they parked all along the hill here and as soon as they had it in park, they took off,” he said.

Bunch and other witnesses told Kustura one of the teens inside the car ran away into the road, but the remaining teens ran into the Aldi. Kustura spoke to a man who was inside when it happened.

“Were you surprised when you saw them run into the store?” Kustura asked.

“I figured something was wrong,” he said.

He described trying to get out of harm’s way.

“Just running, trying to find a way to hide so they went back to the storage area,” he said.

Minutes later, he said officers brought out three suspects. According to Bunch, police tackled the fourth suspect in the parking lot across the street.

“It is scary, it is very scary for sure,” Bunch said.

Kustura saw an apparent bullet hole through the windshield of the car, but MEDIC said it didn’t respond to any kind of shooting in the area. CMPD confirmed the car was involved in a shooting on Tuesday.

Bunch is just thankful it ended peacefully.

“It is sad to see. The kids they brought out were maybe high school age, so that’s the saddest part to me,” he said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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