Four Minneapolis Teens Arrested in Violent Robbery Spree

Four teenagers were arrested Wednesday after Minneapolis police connected them to two aggravated robberies that occurred Tuesday evening across north Minneapolis. The incidents began around 5:45 p.m. when the teens approached a man who had just parked his vehicle on the 2600 block of Park Avenue, police said. One of the suspects brandished a firearm during the assault, robbing the man in an attempted carjacking, though the victim was not injured in the encounter. Shortly after the Park Avenue robbery, the same group targeted a couple on the 600th block of 27th Street East, stealing a vehicle, phone and purse, according to Minneapolis police. Officers deployed automated license plate readers to track the stolen vehicle and located the suspects around 9:30 p.m. near 36th Avenue North and Penn Avenue North. When police attempted to stop the car, the driver—a 15-year-old—accelerated away, leading officers on a pursuit that ended with a collision near Humboldt Avenue North and Lowry Avenue North. The 15-year-old driver fled the crash site on foot and discarded a firearm, which police recovered. He was arrested along with three other suspects: two additional 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old and 17-year-old. The 17- and 15-year-old drivers were booked into Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center for aggravated robbery. The 16-year-old was treated at a hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. Police records show all four suspects had prior arrests. The 15-year-old driver faced multiple charges including aggravated robbery, felony fleeing and being prohibited from possessing a firearm, with prior arrests for auto theft and assault with a dangerous weapon. The 16-year-old had prior arrests for auto theft and aggravated robbery, while the 17-year-old had previous arrests for auto theft and possession of stolen property.