Three charged following armed robberies at Hunt Club Village Apartments

Three men were charged in connection to two armed robberies nine days apart at the Hunt Club Village apartments earlier this month, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said in a news release.

JuJuan Council, 17, was taken into custody Wednesday at his home at the Hunt Club Village apartments.

Preston Helms, 22, and Isaiah Allen, 19, were served with warrants in their jail cells where they were already being held on charges from the Columbia Police Department, Lott said.

Allen and Council are accused of luring a victim into a beating and robbery on February 10. The victim thought he was meeting Allen to sell a set of speakers. Instead he was met by Council who allegedly pistol whipped him and fled with the victim’s medication.

On February 19, a victim was held at gunpoint and carjacked after allegedly providing a ride to Allen and Helms, Lott said.

Allen and Helms were taken into custody the next day when the stolen car was spotted by Columbia Police and stopped on Gervais Street downtown.

JuJuan Council is charged with armed robbery, kidnapping, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Preston Helms is charged with two counts of kidnapping, petit larceny, carjacking, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Isaiah Allen is charged with carjacking.

All three men were being held at the Alvin S Glenn Detention Center Thursday afternoon.

This story was originally published February 25, 2016 at 5:21 PM.