2 Charged In Attempted Robbery Of Mahwah Convenience Store

MAHWAH, NJ - Two men from Newark were charged attempted robbery after they threatened to shoot a cashier at a Route 17 convenience store Saturday morning, police said.

A 911 call was received from the Quick Stop Deli on Route 17 North at 5:43 a.m.; the caller stated that he was about to be robbed and then the phone line went dead, said Chief James N. Batelli.

The store is at the same location as the Mahwah Fuel Stop, which is just south of the New York state border.

The cashier told police that two men, brothers Jermaine and Tyree Kelly, of Newark, had been in and out of the store several times that morning looking at items. After entering a third time, one of them asked the cashier if he could trade a cell phone for some merchandise, Batelli said.

When the cashier refused, one of the men put his hands in his pocket, motioned that he had a gun, and said ‘I have a gun, give me your money or I’ll shoot you,’” Batelli said.

The cashier raised his arms, indicating that the money was outside with the gas station attendant, the chief said.

One of the men walked outside to the attendant while the other walked toward the door. The cashier quickly called 911 and whispered that he was about to be robbed and then placed the phone on the floor, Batelli said.

The one man went back inside the store and both of them approached the cashier when Mahwah police officers entered the store using protective shields and took the two men to the ground, Batelli said. A woman customer was also in the store when police entered.

Jermaine and Tyree Kelly were each charged with first-degree attempted robbery. Bail was set at $200,000 with no 10 percent option for Tyree Kelly and $250,000 with no 10 percent option for Jermaine Kelly. They were both transported to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of bail.

Both men have extensive felony records, police said.

Jermaine and Tyree Kelly/Mahwah Police Department