Two girls robbed at gunpoint walking in Forest Acres, Richland County sheriff says
Two girls were robbed at gunpoint while walking along a Columbia road, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department is searching for three suspects.
The armed robbery happened at about 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 17, the sheriff’s department said in a news release.
The girls, aged 11 and 12, were walking from Trenholm Park when they were robbed, Forest Acres Police Chief Marion Sealy told The State.
While the girls were in the 4900 block of Circle Road, a white sedan driven by a woman pulled up, the sheriff’s department said.
One of two men in the car got out and pointed a handgun at the girls, demanding a cellphone, according to the release.
Once the gunman had the phone, he got back in the car, which drove away toward Spring Branch Drive, the sheriff’s department said.
The girls were shook up, but no injuries were reported, Sealy said. The Samsung phone was the only thing stolen, according to an incident report.
The man’s gun was described as silver and black with a green laser, according to the incident report.
“It was over in a matter of seconds but no child should have to go through that,” one woman who claimed to witness the robbery said in a Facebook post.
Sealy said several people reported the robbery, calling 911, the sheriff’s department, and the Forest Acres Police Department.
Sheriff’s deputies took the girls home after the robbery, according to the incident report.
The sheriff’s department is asking for the community’s help in identifying and locating the people in the car.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or report it to CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
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This story was originally published January 21, 2020 at 1:59 PM.
