Crime & Safety

4 Teens Charged In Worcester Carjackings

Police found a BB gun that looked like a handgun when the teens were searched.

WORCESTER, MA — Four teens, including some as young as 14, have been arrested following an extensive search into multiple carjackings in Worcester this week. Police are looking for one more suspect.

Around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, police were called to King Street, where a carjacking had just happened. A 51-year-old man told officers that he had been sitting in his 2017 Honda Accord in the area when a young male came up to his driver's side window, which was rolled down. The suspect asked the victim if he could give him a ride, and he said no. At that time, the victim showed a gun from his waistband and demanded that the victim get out of his car, at which time the suspect got in and drove off. The vehicle was last seen turning right onto Chandler Street. The victim was unhurt.

The suspect was described as a young male in his teens, wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt and black pants.

Officers then got another call that another vehicle had been involved in an attempted carjacking around Newbury Street, with the suspect similar to that of the original incident.

According to police, the victim told the officers that she was sitting inside her Volvo with her dog when a young male approached her vehicle with a gun in his hand, ordering her out of the car. She told officers that she panicked, and screamed, and it made the suspect run off.

During the same time officers searching the area located the stolen Honda parked on Chatham Street. The Honda is equipped with a key fob in which the owner still possessed. Officers were told that once the vehicle passes a certain distance from the fob the vehicle will become inoperable. Multiple police units were now on scene and began an extensive search for the teen.

A short time later, officers saw two young males getting into a grey Mazda, and one of them looked like the description of the suspect being sought. An officer followed the car and pulled it over near Fruit Street by Pleasant Street. Two men that had gotten into the Mazda jumped out of the car and ran on foot, with officers running after the suspect and other officers staying with the car, which had three other teens inside.

The suspect was seen running into a business located on Sever Street. Officers entered the business and located the suspect hiding under a desk. Apparently the owner of the business that the teen ran into is known to the suspect, said police.

Both victims identified the suspect, a 14-year-old from Worcester.

Officers at the scene of the Mazda ordered the three to exit the vehicle. The driver was a 14-year-old local male. The two passengers were 16-year-old local males. A search of the three produced a BB gun that replicated a handgun.

A check of the Mazda indicated that it was reported stolen earlier on Wednesday on Boardman Street. The vehicle was taken when it was running unattended while warming up.

The 14-year-old that stole the Honda and attempted to take the Volvo was placed under arrest and charged with 2 counts of Carjacking, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon over the age of 60 and Minor in Possession of a BB Gun.

The second 14-year-old was charged with Using a Motor Vehicle without Authority, Carjacking, Accessory after the Fact and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.

A 16-year-old male was charged with Carjacking, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Accessory after the Fact and Using a Motor Vehicle without Authority. The second 16-year-old was charged with Using a Motor Vehicle without Authority, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Accessory after the Fact, Carjacking, and Minor in Possession of a BB Gun. A fifth male suspect, the one that ran off with the 14-year-old suspect, is still being sought by police.

This investigation is ongoing.

All four juveniles will be arraigned at the Worcester County District Courthouse on a date yet to be determined.

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