POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 17-year-old boy was among four people arrested over the last week following an armed robbery at a memorial service in Lakeland, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim told investigators he was robbed outside of his car around 8 p.m. on Nov. 2 at Aldine-Combee County Park, where he was attending a memorial for a friend. After meeting with his friends and returning to his car — which deputies noted his girlfriend had stayed behind in — four people wearing masks and gloves allegedly shoved the victim up against the vehicle “and shoved a gun in his face,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
The individual holding the gun was later identified as Anthony Wilcox Jr., 18, the release states. The victim told deputies that Wilcox took his gold chain while another suspect — Jakari Lowery, 19 — stole his cell phone, which was later found elsewhere in the park.
A witness soon identified Wilcox, Lowery and a 17-year-old boy as attendees of the earlier memorial and, thought to be armed, warrants for their arrests were secured in tow, according to the sheriff’s office.
The 17-year-old was detained on Thursday, Nov. 7, by a school resource deputy at Kathleen High School, the release states. During an interview with robbery detectives, the boy allegedly admitted to being armed at the memorial and to pointing a weapon at the victim, the sheriff’s office said. He was arrested and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center without trouble, according to the release.
Come Wednesday, Nov. 13, Lakeland police informed Polk detectives that Wilcox had been found at an address associated with Lowery along South Combee Road, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies surrounded the home and several people left it as a result, yet Wilcox and Lowery had to be convinced to surrender, the release states. After being taken to the Sheriff’s Operations Center, Wilcox and Lowery allegedly told investigators that they were at the memorial, yet they denied possessing weapons or robbing the victim.
A fourth person — identified as Brent Johnson, 21 — was arrested at the home along South Combee Road to face charges of possessing marijuana, resisting arrest and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the sheriff’s office said, adding two handguns and an AR-15-style rifle were recovered from the residence.
Wilcox faces charges of armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and resisting arrest, according to the sheriff’s office.
Lowery faces charges of resisting arrest and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in addition to those associated with three active warrants, the release states.
The 17-year-old will face charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a minor, according to the release. It was not immediately said whether he would be charged as an adult.
News 6 is not naming or showing the 17-year-old due to the current circumstances of the case.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: