Teen robbers apprehended
By Elizabeth Billips Associate Editor

Four teenage robbers were jailed after police caught them in their getaway car.

Officers were clearing up a murder scene Wednesday night when a clerk at Golden Pantry reported she'd been robbed at gunpoint, according to Waynesboro Police Investigator Bobbie Jockel.

Officers fanned out around the South Liberty Street convenience store and spotted Dominique Hughes, 16, and Ja'quez Paschal, 15, running toward a Taurus in the Harveys' Supermarkets parking lot.

The car "squealed off" with them in the backseat, but police blocked them in at Shadrack and West Sixth streets.

Both boys were taken into custody, as well as the driver, 17- year-old Reggie Jordan, and 18- year-old Ricky Lindell Hughes, who allegedly acted as the lookout.

Police recovered a .380-calibre handgun that was used in the robbery, along with a large amount of cash and stolen tobacco products.

According to Jockel, the older boys communicated with younger ones throughout the robbery. "They called them several times to see what was taking so long," she said.

All four are charged with armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

The teens are suspects in at least one more armed robbery, according to Police Chief Karl E. Allen.

Investigators and GBI agents are comparing security footage from this robbery and the Sept. 4 robbery of El Cheapo on South Liberty Street.

In both cases, the stores were robbed by young black males who covered their faces with Tshirts and demanded the same brand-name cigarettes and cigars in addition to the money.

Golden Pantry is the fourth Waynesboro business robbed at gunpoint in less than a month.

(Editor's note: Under Georgia law, the names of juveniles age 13 and over may be released when they are charged with any one of 25 offenses, including armed robbery.)