Teens 14 to 18 years old arrested, charged in gas station robbery and assault

PITTSBURGH — Four teenagers and one adult are facing robbery charges after police say they forced their way into the Sunoco in East Liberty Sunday afternoon, robbed the store and assaulted the owner.

Patrice Howze, 18, is facing several charges. He and four juveniles, ranging in age from 14 to 17, were arrested a short time after the robbery.

The gas station clerk told police he saw a group of boys approaching the store and recognized them because they stole from the store in the past. The clerk told police he used a magnet lock to secure the door and told the group he was not letting them in and they needed to leave. The clerk said the boys started pulling on the door, broke the lock and came into the store. Some of them put on masks to hide their faces, according to a criminal complaint.

The clerk told police the group began stuffing items into their pockets and backpacks, like food and vape pens.

During the robbery, the clerk said he started recording the five people on his phone before one of them grabbed his phone and deleted the video. The clerk also tried to block the door to keep them from leaving but told police the teens started throwing items at him, including a liter of lemonade, hitting him in the ribs.

Zone 5 police officers quickly found and arrested the group with the help of surveillance cameras.

“It’s not surprising. It’s sad but not the most surprising,” said Tavorres McNatt who stopped by the gas station Monday.

McNatt said he got into trouble as a teenager himself and thinks kids need more positive influences and places to go to stay out of trouble. He wants to see the group held accountable but thinks they deserve a second chance.

“Do you have something more productive that will make you feel more fulfilled than what you currently do? That’s what changed for me. I found something to do, started getting older, had a family” he said. “What if this was your 14-year-old? Would you want them so easily just thrown away up under the jail and just forgotten about? Or would you like to give them a chance to redeem themself?”

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