By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 16-year-old male was remanded yesterday after allegedly robbing a Popeye’s Restaurant on Mackey Street at gunpoint in an incident that ended in a gun battle with an officer last week.
Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr arraigned the teenage defendant, whose name is being withheld due to his age, on charges of armed robbery, possession of an unlicenced firearm, and possession of ammunition.
The juvenile’s guardians were present during his arraignment.
The defendant and an accomplice, both armed with handguns, allegedly robbed the cashier of $800 in cash after seizing two cash register tins valued at $200 as restaurant employees fled at 8pm on August 12.
As the suspects attempted to escape, they reportedly engaged in a firefight with an officer at the scene before making their getaway. No one was injured in the incident.
The defendant was allegedly found with a black Smith & Wesson Springfield .40 pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition after being stopped and searched on Deanza Close at 7pm on August 16.
He pleaded not guilty to both firearm charges but was informed that the armed robbery charge would proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
Magistrate Allen denied bail for the firearm charges but informed the juvenile of his right to reapply for bail through the higher court.
The defendant will be remanded to the adolescent unit of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his gun trial begins on October 9.
The VBI is set to be served on January 30, 2025.
Before being taken into remand, the defendant was allowed an emotional moment with relatives in court.
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