Danville Police have arrested 3 juveniles in connection with a Monday morning armed robbery. Meanwhile police are continuing their probe into another armed robbery.
Police Commander Joshua Webb says three juveniles are being held in an armed robbery that occurred shortly after one o’clock this (Monday) morning at a Circle K Gas Station in the 600 block of South Bowman Avenue. An employee told police the business was robbed by two young black males who displayed a handgun and demanded cash.
Police learned the suspects may have fled in a silver van after taking cash and some tobacco products. Danville Police on patrol spotted a vehicle matching the description of the one that was wanted and police say the vehicle refused to stop in the area of Kansas and Vine Streets. A pursuit ended a short while later when the van crashed into a tree on Lee Road and the occupants fled on foot. Police were able to apprehend the suspects and learned all three are juveniles. Two of them are 14-year-olds and the third is 16 years old.
Their names are being withheld due to their ages, and they have been transported to the Vermilion County Juvenile Detention Center. Commander Webb says they each face charges of armed robbery, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a stolen vehicle. It was discovered that the vehicle used in the robbery had been stolen in Danville on Sunday.
The other robbery occurred Friday evening at a Dollar General Store in the 1400 block of North Bowman Avenue. An employee said a black male armed with a handgun robbed the business around 7:20 p.m. Friday. The robber was given an undisclosed amount of cash and then fled from the store running towards Bowman Avenue. The gunman was described as wearing a red sweatshirt and grey sweatpants with a blue hospital style mask over his face.
There were no injuries in either robbery and police say there is nothing at this time to indicate the robberies are related.
The investigation into both robberies continues and anyone who has information that might help in the investigation is asked to call Danville Police at (217) 431-2250. Or you can call Vermilion County Crime Stoppers at (217) 446-TIPS.
