Man Charged In Knifepoint Robbery Of Elderly Couple Outside Walmart: Police

RIVERHEAD, NY — A man who allegedly held up an elderly couple at knifepoint outside the Riverhead Walmart was arrested Saturday, police said.

According to Riverhead Town Police, Christopher M. Laterza was arrested at 1:51 p.m. on Riverside Drive and charged with first degree robbery, a felony.

The arrest stemmed from an investigation into a robbery that occurred in the Walmart parking lot on March 2 in Riverhead, police said. During the incident an elderly couple was robbed at knifepoint while sitting in their car, police said.

Laterza was processed at Riverhead Police Department and held for arraignment, police said.

According to Riverhead Town Police, officers responded at 5:15 p.m. on March 2 to Walmart after a report of a robbery.

The man displayed a box cutter type knife to an elderly couple sitting in their car and demanded money, police said.

The suspect grabbed the woman's pocketbook and fled the area, heading east, police said.