CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte police arrested Joshua Koiyan, 17, in connection to a string of store robberies in north Charlotte that began a week ago and led to a crime spree over the last 36 hours.
A clerk at a food mart at The Plaza and Milton Road said her brother was working when the robber came in, and she is thankful no one was hurt.
[ IMAGES: Surveillance pictures from north Charlotte robbery spree ]
The series of armed robberies from businesses:
“This could happen (in) everything, but God is great,” she said.
Koiyan was arrested Friday afternoon on Spratt Street in Charlotte.
- On Oct. 4 at approximately 10:04 a.m., a male suspect entered the MMYT Food Mart, located at 3007 Shamrock Drive in the North Tryon Division, and robbed the business at gunpoint. The suspect then fled the scene.
- On Oct. 5 at approximately 1:45 p.m., a male suspect entered the MMYT Food Mart, located at 3007 Shamrock Drive, and proceeded to rob the business at gunpoint. The suspect then fled the scene.
- On Wednesday at approximately 5:14 p.m., a male suspect entered the Boost Mobile Store, located at 4331 The Plaza in the North Tryon Division, and robbed the business at gunpoint.
- At approximately 9:27 p.m. on Wednesday, a male suspect entered the Plaza and Milton Food Mart, located at 6021 The Plaza in the North Tryon Division, and robbed the business at gunpoint.
- A short time later at approximately 9:28 p.m., North Tryon Officers received a second armed robbery business from 1915 Milton Road, where a male suspect armed with a handgun had robbed the Run-In Convenience store at gunpoint.
- On Thursday at approximately 2:04 p.m., North Tryon Division patrol officers responded to the EZ Light business, located at 4456 The Plaza, in reference to an armed robbery from business. Upon arrival, officers were advised that a black male, armed with a handgun, had entered the business and robbed it at gunpoint. The suspect then fled the scene.