Teens arrested in connection with armed robbery

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Teens say they robbed store to pay for prom, graduation

  By Lori Dougovito

FLINT (WJRT) -- (05/30/08)--Four Flint teenagers have been arrested, suspected in an armed robbery. Police say two of the teens claim they did it to pay for prom and graduation.

The robbery happened at the Jumbo Video store on Flushing Road about 10:30 p.m. Thursday. About a half hour later, police arrested four Flint teenagers near Welch and Dupont.

All four are 18 years old, now charged with armed robbery, carrying a concealed weapon and using a firearm to commit a felony.

Only one had a previous record for petty crimes. Police say three of them are seniors at Flint Southwestern Academy.

"They came in, took the money and took off," according to the store owner, who did not want to be identified.

"They didn't actually get all the money, so I'm guessing that weren't that experienced at this."

About 30 minutes after that robbery, Alberta Davis noticed something.

"I live on the corner of Dupont and Welch," she said. "It was a Cadillac."

And police had it pulled over.

"They got the kids out of the car," she said. "They searched the car and they got stuff out of the trunk."

Police say the car and the stuff in it -- mainly a gun in the glove box, a Spiderman backpack, and a black hat and bandannas -- matched what was used in the video store robbery.

All four teenagers were arrested. Police say three of the four are seniors at Flint's Southwestern Academy.

Two of them claim they did what they did to pay for prom and graduation. Southwestern Academy's prom is Saturday; graduation is next week.

Armed robbery does carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. They will be charged Saturday.

At least one other police agency is looking to see if any of the four are responsible for other robberies recently.

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abc12 News Team

Lori Dougovito

Lori joined the ABC12 news team in November 2007....

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