A juvenile has been taken into custody following a carjacking in downtown West, according to information released by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The crime took place shortly before midnight yesterday, when two 16-year-olds sitting in a Toyota Camry were approached and robbed at gunpoint.
According to the victims' account, relayed by the SLMPD, the pair were waiting for a friend in the 1200 block of Lucas when three suspects approached them asking for a lighter. After briefly walking away, the suspects returned swiftly to threaten the teens with a handgun and to immediately order them out of the vehicle. The suspects then took control of the Camry and fled.
The officers managed to locate the stolen vehicle at a gas station on the 2800 block of Gravois. They attempted to stop the car, but the suspects sped away. The high-speed chase concluded at Texas Avenue & Lynch Street, where three individuals abandoned the car and attempted to flee on foot.
While two of the suspects were able successfully to evade capture, the police apprehended a 15-year-old male. He has since been transferred to the Juvenile Building and is being held there. As police continue to actively seek the two remaining suspects, the investigation is still very much ongoing. The SLMPD has stressed the importance of community assistance in this matter, and they are asking for anyone with information to come forward—promoting the use of CrimeStoppers where tips may lead to not just arrests but also potential rewards.
CrimeStoppers can be contacted anonymously at 866-371-TIPS (8477), and tips that lead to an arrest could qualify for a monetary reward. Alternatively, information can also be submitted directly to a detective at 314-444-2500.
