Juveniles wanted in store robbery, renewing calls for juvenile reform

BALTIMORE, Md. (WBFF) — There are renewed calls for juvenile justice reform after young people are accused of committing an armed robbery that sent an innocent man to the hospital.

Officers responded to a convenience store at 3000 Arunah Avenue in west Baltimore at approximately 4:41 p.m. on October 8.

Investigators said they found an employee who stated he had been assaulted by three suspects who had since fled the scene with merchandise.

The employee was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Investigators announced a $2,000 reward in the case and released images that captured just how young the suspects appear to be.

Law enforcement expert Jason Johnson weighed in on the case.

“They are very young. They are children. And if they were in fact involved in an armed robbery, that’s just another very troubling thing. And I think it’s just more evidence that the way the General Assembly has treated juveniles and the way the Department of Juvenile Services has treated juveniles, it’s, it’s wholly inadequate. And I think things are going in entirely the wrong direction,” said Johnson.

Just last month and on the same date of this alleged armed robbery, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced the 12-year-old who hit and killed a motorcyclist while behind the wheel of a stolen car was too young to be charged.

“I’m hurt. I’m frustrated. I keep knocking my head against the wall, and no one is listening,” said Bates, back in October.

“I would agree,” said Johnson. “And I think there’s a certain amount of— I think most of the members of the General Assembly who have voted in favor of these, you know, over the last probably 5 years, there’s been a number of different bills that impact juvenile justice. And I think they’ve done it earnestly, with good intentions, and not intending to cause a public safety threat. But I think there’s enough information now that we have of what’s transpired, both in the data and in anecdotal stories like this, looking at very young, very young juvenile violent offenders, that the system needs to change.”

Anyone with information on this latest case is asked to contact Baltimore Police or Metro Crime Stoppers.