3 Juveniles Charged With Robbery at Gunpoint

Police are investigating a Dec. 20 robbery of a Waretown man who was held at gunpoint at a Lanoka Harbor convenience store.

Three New Brunswick juveniles are in custody, and weapons were recovered after police said the Waretown man was held up after failing to produce an amount of marijuana that was promised to the teens.

Police said the 20-year-old victim was held at gunpoint in the parking lot of the convenience store. The teen suspects fled south, and the Waretown man called 911 just after 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20.

The suspects were stopped on Route 532 by Ocean Township police officers. A .38-caliber handgun and hollow-point ammunition was found inside the vehicle, said police, who also recovered a .22-caliber rifle, digital scale and the Waretown man's phone after executing a search warrant.

The three 16-year-old suspects were charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. They were sent to the Ocean County Juvenile Justice Center.

The incident remains under investigation with future arrests possible.