Police in Wayne NJ arrested a local man who allegedly committed an armed robbery outside a grocery store.
According to authorities, the robbery occurred around midnight in the parking lot of the ShopRite supermarket located on Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne, New Jersey.
The suspect, a 19-year-old man from Wayne NJ, reportedly approached the victim just outside the ShopRite. The victim was standing outside the grocery store as he waited for his girlfriend, a ShopRite employee, to finish her shift at midnight.
The suspect allegedly got the victim s attention by lifting up his shirt and revealing a handgun. The suspect then allegedly grabbed the gun, pointed it at the victim, and demanded that the victim hand over cash and other property.
Rather than give the suspect any money, the victim reportedly acted in self-defense and grabbed a knife. He then yelled at the suspect to leave immediately.
The suspect reportedly fled the scene by running through the parking lot, hopping into a silver Lexus SUV, and driving away. The suspect was seen driving toward Pike Drive and Ratzer Road in Wayne, New Jersey.
The victim dialed 911 and notified the Wayne Police Department, which dispatched officers to the scene to search for the suspect. Not long after that, a Wayne NJ cop spotted the suspect wearing bloody clothing and walking on Ratzer Road.
The suspect was subsequently placed under arrest. He has been charged with first degree armed robbery.
If the suspect is convicted of first degree armed robbery, he faces severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1, a defendant who is convicted of using a deadly weapon, such as a handgun or a knife, during a theft can be sentenced to 10-20 years in NJ State Prison.
While the suspect awaits resolution of the criminal charges against him, he is being held at the Passaic County Jail in lieu of a $200K bail amount.
For further information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Man Accused of Using Gun in Robbery outside Wayne Supermarket.”
