Hickory police arrest two teens for armed robbery

HICKORY, N.C. — Police have arrested two teenagers in connection to an armed robbery last week in Hickory. 

Trystan McClain, 16, and Ahmad Smith, 17, have been charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon for the Thursday morning robbery at Walgreens on North Center Street, Hickory police said. 

McClain was also charged in a Thursday robbery at Murphy Express convenience store on Hickory Boulevard in Granite Falls, officials said.

Eyewitness News reporter Dave Faherty found out how investigators were able to make the arrests even though the gunman never showed his face on surveillance video.

Investigators said surveillance video at Murphy's Express showed a customer distract the clerk, walking off after the robber ran from the store.

Police identified the customer as McClain, a Hickory High student.

Family members of the teens said they were stunned to hear news of the arrest.
 
One mother said if her son is involved, he must have snuck out of her home after she went to bed. 

"Our family is devastated," said his aunt, Lauren Everley. "Beyond devastated. He's in the Beta Club.

He's taking honor classes. He's beyond smart and has a great, great heart."
 
Police said 40 minutes after the robbery, the Walgreens in Hickory was also robbed at gunpoint.
 
The suspects were wearing clothing almost identical to what the suspects were wearing at Murphy's Express.
 
That led the arrest of Smith and McClain.

"They been friends for a very long time," McClain's attorney Steve Brackett said. "Frankly, my client's family has discouraged the friendship. We think some of the responsibility is with the other young man."
 
A judge denied a request to have the bond for McClain reduced Monday after his attorney told the judge he was not the one holding the gun. 
 
"We love him and we're behind him 100 percent and we're in prayer for him," Everley said.

Police said they are also looking at whether the pair may be linked to a third case at a CVS in Hickory earlier this last week. 
 
Both teenagers remain in jail and Hickory and Granite Falls police officers are still investigating the cases.

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