Teens Arrested After Robbery, Carjacking, Chase
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - An armed robbery and carjacking near a Dallas pharmacy early Friday morning wound up as a high speed chase that crossed through parts of five North Texas cities. And the three suspects were all under 18 years of age.
The incident started at around 2:45 a.m. after reports of a robbery at a Walgreens located along Buckner Boulevard and then a carjacking in the pharmacy's parking lot. Officers found the stolen vehicle -- a 2000 Toyota Avalon -- and started to chase it, but backed off of the suspects near Garland when speeds became too high for public safety.
However, the Dallas Police Department's helicopter spotted the stolen vehicle once again and officers with the Garland Police Department started chasing it in their city. This time, the pursuit traveled through Richardson, Farmers Branch and Addison before ending on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.
Officers performed a pit maneuver and finally got the vehicle to stop on the iconic Dallas structure. That is when police realized that the suspects were all teenagers. The passengers in the car were 15 and 17 years old, and the driver was only 13 years old.
Authorities stated that the suspects used both a real gun and a plastic toy gun during the carjacking.
The victim has been identified as 31-year-old Lidia Zepeda. She told law enforcement officials that she was approached by the suspects and asked for change as she was walking to her vehicle. But the suspects pulled out a gun and drove off in her car.
At least two of the teens were taken to Baylor Medical Center at Dallas as a precautionary measure. Officials stated that there were no serious injuries. All three suspects were arrested. The older teenagers will be charged for the robbery and the carjacking, while the younger suspect faces a charge of evading arrest.
