16-year-old to face adult charges, another teen sought in armed robbery of home
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Police arrested a teenager Wednesday for a violent home invasion and robbery of a couple in their 70s, but police said they are still looking for another suspect who is believed to be armed and dangerous.
An arrest warrant was issued for Rahiam Shabazz, 18. Police say his partner in the crime, 16-year-old Micah Pimental of Indianapolis, turned himself in Wednesday and will be charged as an adult. He will be formally charged Thursday morning in Marion Superior Court, Criminal Division 2.
Each teen faces these preliminary charges: a count of burglary with a deadly weapon, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of criminal confinement and a count of battery resulting in bodily injury.
Police issued surveillance photos of the teens Sept. 25 in an effort to get help from the public. The photos were taken at a Family Dollar store where the pair were seen using one of the stolen credit cards from the robbery at an ATM, police said.
A news release from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said officers were dispatched just after 12:20 p.m. Sept. 25 to the 1100 block of Nanwich Court on the report of a robbery. That’s near Bluff and West Southport roads on the far-south side.
The release said, “When officers arrived, one of the victims informed the officer that two males forced their way into the home after knocking at the door. After entering the victim’s home, the suspects stuck a female in the head and tied both victims up. The suspects fled the scene in the victim’s silver Jeep, which was later recovered. The female victim was taken to an area hospital in stable condition.”
Jack and Julia Agard said the teenagers forced their way into their Perry Township home around 11 a.m. Sept. 25.
Shabazz “open-handed (struck) me on the side of the head,” Julia said.
The bruises on Julia’s face are healing but Jack said their pain lingers.
“My main injuries are mental,” Jack said. “You’re just at their mercy completely.”
Police said Shabazz and Pimental taped the couple to chairs, robbed them at gunpoint and took off with the Agards’ car. The Agards said the teens got away with more than $800 in cash, debit cards, a handgun and a shotgun. They said police later found their car with the shotgun inside.
IMPD said they released Pimental’s name because he’s being charged as an adult.
“Relief, but the one they arrested isn’t the one that beat on me,” Julia said.
“I was hoping they’d get all of them but I guess that’s gonna have to wait,” Jack said.
IMPD Sgt. Jim Gillespie said if you see Shabazz, you should not approach him. You should call the police.
“The more eyes we can get on this guy, the better,” Gillespie said. “He has no right to be out there on the streets of Indianapolis or anywhere in this nation and he needs to be brought to justice and face consequences.”
The Agards said they had to wrestle their way out of the tape to call 911 after the suspects left.
“By the time we got outta the tape, they already had our credit cards and were shopping,” Jack said. “We know that because the bank had what times they were doing stuff.”
Julia said the crime also robbed them of their sense of security and she’d “hire an armed guard” if she could afford it.
Anyone who knows where to find Shabazz can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 and leave an anonymous tip.
