Police: Teen fires gun at Lexington Meijer door, group flees in stolen van
Five teens have been charged after one allegedly fired a gun at an entrance of the Hamburg Meijer while the group fled theft prevention employees in a stolen van, Lexington police say.
The incident started around 2 p.m. at the Meijer, according to Lexington police. Loss prevention employees told police they saw three people who appeared to be under 18 trying to steal merchandise, including electronics and clothing. When employees tried to stop the suspects, they drove off in a Dodge Caravan, police said.
When the suspects fled, they almost hit an employee with the getaway vehicle, and one of the passengers fired a shot that shattered one of the store’s entry doors, police said.
The Dodge Caravan had been stolen the night before, police said. Officers tried to locate the vehicle. The vehicle eventually crashed into a pole on East Seventh Street and five people fled the vehicle, police said. They were apprehended, and stolen merchandise from the Meijer was found with them, police said.
The charged suspects were between the ages of 15 and 17, police said.
One 16-year-old was charged with fleeing or evading police, robbery, receiving stolen property, wanton endangerment, criminal mischief, leaving the scene of an accident and being a minor in possession of a gun.
Another 16-year-old was charged with fleeing or evading police, robbery, wanton endangerment and receiving stolen property.
A 15-year-old suspect was charged with fleeing or evading police, robbery and receiving stolen property.
A third 16-year-old suspect and a 17-year-old suspect weren’t in the store when loss prevention employees saw three of the suspects trying to steal merchandise, police said. Those suspects were charged with fleeing or evading police and receiving stolen property.
This story was originally published February 23, 2021 at 8:41 AM.