Teen charged in W. Asheville store robbery, was shot by customer

ASHEVILLE - A 17-year-old was charged Wednesday in connection to an armed robbery that took place last week at a convenience store in West Asheville, according to arrest warrants. 

The teen was charged with one felony count of robbery with a dangerous weapon and one misdemeanor of simple assault, warrants state. 

The Citizen-Times does not publish the names of juveniles. 

Warrants allege that the teen took an undetermined amount of cash from the register at M&J Food Mart, at 1902 Old Haywood Road, Friday night. 

He was also accused of discharging a Taser at the store clerk, warrants state. 

In a 911 call, the store clerk told a dispatcher there was an attempted robbery at the store. The incident took place around 9:45 p.m. 

The caller said that  one suspect pointed a gun in his face and a second suspect fired a Taser at him. He also said that a customer had a gun and fired two shots at the suspects. 

The teen that was charged Wednesday was shot during this encounter, said Asheville police spokeswoman Christina Hallingse. He had been transported to Mission Hospital and once he was released police charged him. 

At the time of the robbery there were two customers in the store in addition to the store clerk, according to the 911 caller.

The suspects, who were wearing black clothing and masks, fled from the store in the direction of Smokey Park Highway, the caller told a dispatcher. 

The store clerk told a dispatcher he did not need medical attention, according to the 911 call. 

"No. I'm fine," he said. "I go tased, but other than that I'm good." 

No other injuries were reported, according to a police report. 

The teen was detained at the Buncombe County Detention Facility Wednesday in lieu of a $600,000 secured bond. He was scheduled to appear in Buncombe County District Court Thursday. 

Police continued to search for the second suspect involved in this robbery Thursday, Hallingse said. 

She encourages anyone with additional information on this incident to contact the Asheville Police Department at 828-252-1110 or Buncombe County Crime Stoppers at 828-255-5050.