Update: The charges against the three teens will be dropped, the sheriff’s office reports. See the follow-up investigation, “As Their Accuser Is Implicated, 3 Teens Linger in Jail Even Though Charges of Armed Robbery at Epic Theater Will Be Dropped.”
Two teen-age boys and a girl were arrested and charged with allegedly robbing a 15-year-old boy at gunpoint in front of Epic Theaters, the movie house, in Palm Coast’s Town center Friday evening (Jan. 6).
The three alleged assailants were quickly apprehended as they traveled down Bulldog Drive after the alleged robbery, carried out to take the victim’s belt and cell phone.
The three teens arrested were Trenton Nix, 15, of Palm Coast, Jahseem Jackson, 15, of Brandon, and Latiria Lewis-Hartline, 16, of Bunnell. Lewis-Hartline and Nix are students at Matanzas High School. The alleged victim is a student at Indian Trails Middle School.
At one point the alleged assailants had pointed two guns, one on each side of the 15-year-old’s head. But no guns were recovered from any of the teens when they were arrested.
“He was targeted over a $70 belt. These kids held a gun to my son’s head, two guns, to each side of his head,” said Michael Straub. “Something has to be done, they need to step up or get more police officers involved at the movie theater or this kind of incident is going to continue happening.”
The alleged victim identified Jackson as being “armed with a small black handgun that he retrieved from the front of his waistband, charging the action and subsequently aiming the firearm” at the boy’s head and demanding his property, according to a Flagler County Sheriff’s incident report. The middle school student “further alleged that Latiria Lewis-Hartline also retrieved a large black handgun from the front of her waistband, charging the action and aiming the weapon at his head.”
Nix, the victim said to deputies, was also present during the alleged robbery, but was unarmed. The boy said he was “extremely scared” and submitted to the alleged assailants’ demands as they rummaged through his pockets.
Nix later provided the following account to deputies: that he, Jackson and Lewis-Hartline went to Epic Theaters to meet the alleged victim to buy a small semi-automatic handgun from him. The boy set the original purchase price at $250, according to Nix, though the trio only had $150, which the boy supposedly refused, so the meeting ended and the trio started walking to McDonald’s. Nix, the report states, “alleges at no time was [the boy] robbed, nor did any of the three individuals have a firearm in their possession or control. Trenton [Nix] vehemently denies all accusations of armed robbery and theft.”
Straub, the alleged victim’s father, said he had just dropped off his son at the theater so he could join up with friends who’d gone into the theater. He says there were four assailants, not three, as the deputies’ reports indicate. “He was walking up and they obviously saw his belt,” Straub said, referring to the Fendi belt he’d gotten at Christmas. Imagine getting that phone call from your son, saying, Dad I was just robbed, two guns to my head, over my belt. That is just horrible, man.”
Nix, Jackson and Lewis-Hartline, were all charged with armed robbery, as well as petit theft. Lewis-Hartline declined to provide a statement. Jackson at first agreed to provide a statement then invoke his right to counsel before any questioning occurred. The three teens were subsequently transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Volusia County.
PCer says
and people say that Matanzas is the “good” school.
Ok now what says
What about arresting the other Robbers from Flaglerlives last article. Why the double standard?
Veteran says
Guess I have to start carrying at Epic!
PCer says
I am considering no longer going to the movies. Maybe EPIC needs to install some security cameras and hire some off duty officers or security guards to patrol on the weekends or when there are a lot of kids at the theater.
OddJob says
Matanzas HS is no different from any other school in Flagler County where violent acts are a regular occurrence.
Student says
It is not Matanzas who is a bad school but the students to choose to do bad things, the school does not show students how to shoot or commit crimes but the students themselves choose the path of harm.
Dave says
Yea right, no one even had guns, somethings fishy here, I’m not sure I believe the kids story who said he was robbed at gun point.
SSB says
trenton nix shouldnt be accused of armed robbery if he didnt have a gun
Freddy says
A gun deal was going on according to the report above. The whole story smells fishy to me.
Sick and tired says
Maybe this type of activity would be less likely to happen if more officers were patrolling instead of sitting idle in their patrol cars in one area for a long length of time. Hoping Staley will clean up a bit!
derek says
your right we should
Concerned citizen says
Maybe there should be consequences and punished for incidents at school so that kids know that there are consequences and punishments in the real world.
BlueJammers says
Lordy! Armed robbery at age 15??? When I was 15 years old (back in the Middle Ages) the worst thing I ever did was light a paper bag of dog poo on the neighborhood grouch’s front step.
Dee says
@ veteran- I been carrying at the movie theatre!!!
lron says
@Concerned citizen- You are absolutely correct. This is especially true at the middle schools.
Casey says
Its so stupid that other teens think its smart to do a “gun deal” at a movie theater. Not saying this okay, but come on. Also, what do you need a gun for, your 15! Smh I know of Jackson and I never expected this from him. I can’t believe this.
Katie Semore says
@Dee, with the trouble last night I bet the Epic will become a no gun establishment and you will no longer be allowed to carry there. They may start searching bags and have metal detectors.