Lincoln County Sheriff’s Detectives will pursue charges against two juvenile suspects for robbery with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping. The Sheriff’s Office is working with the Department of Juvenile Justice. The charges are in connection with a March 25 armed robbery at the Dollar General store on N.C. Highway 10 North in Vale.
On that date, Deputies were dispatched to an armed robbery call at the store. During the investigation, Officers learned that two males entered the store with firearms and forced employees to open the cash registers. While one suspect held the employees and at least one customer at gunpoint, the other suspect emptied the cash registers. The suspects then fled on foot to a vehicle waiting at another location.
Detectives also learned that Dollar General stores in Gaston and Cleveland counties had been robbed in the same manner a few days earlier. Lincoln County Detectives followed up on local leads, as well as leads in Gaston and Cleveland counties, to identify the individuals involved. Over a two-day period, Sheriff’s Detectives in Lincoln and Cleveland counties, along with Detectives from the Gastonia and Shelby police departments, were able to identify multiple suspects and the vehicle used in all three robberies.
On March 26, Detectives from Lincoln County, Cleveland County, and Shelby located two juvenile suspects who list Shelby addresses. One juvenile was taken into custody by Cleveland County Detectives and transferred to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice. The other juvenile was interviewed and released to a parent.
Lincoln County Detectives are also trying to identify the owner of the vehicle involved in all three robberies. The vehicle is a black 2020 or 2021 Ford Edge. Anyone with information should contact Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 828-455-6762.
Story: Ralph Mangum-WHKY