ROCKWELL — A juvenile suspect was taken into custody on Wednesday by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office following a reported shooting and armed robbery.
According to a report from the RCSO, at approximately 9:35 am, deputies responded to the parking lot of Restoration Church, located at the intersection of Cannon Street and Cal Miller Road in Rockwell. The call referenced a possible shooting.
Upon arrival and after further investigation, deputies determined that the victim had arranged to meet a male subject in the church parking lot. “During the meeting, the subject allegedly produced a firearm and robbed the victim,” the sheriff’s office report said. “At least one gunshot was fired during the incident; however, no one was struck by gunfire.”
While not hit by a discharged bullet, the victim was struck in the head with the firearm itself, resulting in “serious but non-life-threatening injuries,” per the report.
The victim was able to flee the area and sought shelter at a nearby property, where the incident was reported to law enforcement. Rowan County EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment. Detectives with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation and identified the suspect as a 16-year-old juvenile.
Detectives then obtained a search warrant for the juvenile’s residence, which was in Cabarrus County. With assistance from the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, deputies located the juvenile and took him into custody. During the execution of the search warrant, the juvenile allegedly attempted to flee.
The juvenile was charged with robbery with a firearm and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. He was transferred to the custody of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and transported to the Stonewall Jackson Youth Development Center.
The juvenile’s name is being withheld in accordance with North Carolina law governing the release of juvenile records. His case is being processed for transfer to Superior Court.
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who may have information about the incident asked to call Detective Nate Phillips 704-216-8706 or Lt. Ryan Barkley 704-216-8711.
