CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Chief of Detectives Lt. Tony Hazelett said it was difficult to watch the surveillance video which showed the shooting death of a teenage clerk at a Charleston business.
“You watch the clerk comply and do everything he was asking. He handed over everything and never made an aggressive move toward the suspect but as this juvenile was leaving the store he opened fire on him. It’s just ridiculous,” said Hazelett in explaining the investigation which resulted in the arrest of a 14-year-old boy.
The young suspect was taken into custody around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday less than five hours after Caden Martin, 19, of Dunbar, was shot and killed during an armed robbery of the Tobacco & Pipe shop on Charleston’s 7th Avenue.
“When we got to the establishment the victim was deceased behind the counter and had sustained multiple gunshot wounds,” Hazelett added.
Video surveillance in the store gave police their lead for the suspect. They were also able to determine he fled on foot toward the Kanawha River and used a K-9 to help track his movements. He was arrested in the North Charleston area. Since he’s a juvenile, the teen ‘s name has not been released.
“It’s very brazen. You got what you wanted, you could have went about your way, but you had to stop and take a life,” said Hazelett.
Hazelett acknowledged 14 was a young age for a murder suspect, but unfortunately not the first time he’s dealt with such a thing.
“Unfortunately, I dealt with the same age suspect in a 2009 homicide, so it’s not unheard of,” he added.
It’s the second murder of the new year in Charleston and both of them happened in close proximity. Hazelett said it’s not a bad neighborhood and the two killings in the same general area was just a coincidence. The first murder was a domestic incident.
UPDATE 8:40 a.m. Wednesday A 14-year-old boy is in custody charged with murdering a 19-year-old clerk at a Charleston tobacco shot Tuesday night.
Charleston police said the boy entered the Tobacco & Pipe store on 7th Avenue in North Charleston at around 8:40 p.m. He brandished a gun and demanded money and merchandise.
According to police, the victim, Caden Martin, 19, of Dunbar, “complied with the suspect’s demands and at no time took an aggressive approach towards the suspect. As the suspect was leaving the store, he fired multiple rounds at the victim.”
The boy ran toward the Kanawha River.
Detectives said the 14-year-old was arrested at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. He’s charged with first degree murder and first degree robbery.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A worker at a Charleston business was shot and killed during a robbery Tuesday night.
Charleston police said the Tobacco & Pipe shop on 7th Avenue was robbed at around 8:40 p.m.
A call to Kanawha County Metro 911 said a worker was found on the floor bleeding. He was not breathing.
Officers described the suspect as a black man, wearing a black hoodie, blue jeans and black Crocs. The suspect also had on a white face mask with a black Jordan backpack.
The suspect was last seen running toward the Kanawha River.
Police are checking surveillance video and using a dog in an attempt to pick up a scent.