Birmingham teen runaways accused in armed carjacking in West Virginia; 3 sought
A 14-year-old runaway boy from Birmingham is in custody and three others are sought after police say they tried to carjack someone at gunpoint in West Virginia.
Birmingham police on Tuesday announced the four boys had left an inpatient facility over the weekend.
East Precinct officers responded shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday to a report of the juvenile runaways from the facility on the city’s eastside. The name of the facility has not been disclosed.
Police identified the runaways as: Romaine Lovins, a 14-year-old Black male, 5-feet,11-inches tall, weighing 150 pounds; Hayden Payne, a 16-year-old white male, 5-feet, 6-inches tall, weighing 200 pounds; Samuel Richey, a 16-year-old white male, 5-feet, 6-inches tall weighing 135 pounds and Breland Zainerrian, a 13-year-old Black male, 5-feet, 4-inches tall, weighing 135 pounds.
Huntington police officials on Wednesday afternoon said the 14-year-old is in custody there for an attempted robbery that happened Tuesday.
Police said they are still searching for Payne, Richey and Zainerrian.
“All three juveniles are wanted for first-degree robbery, and they are considered to be armed and dangerous,’’ the police department said.
At 5:25 p.m. Tuesday, Huntington police officers responded to an attempted robbery in the 1300 block of 6th Avenue.
The victim reported she was removed from her vehicle by physical force and by gunpoint by four individuals.
The individuals unsuccessfully attempted to steal the victim’s vehicle during the incident. The individuals fled the area when the victim called 911.
Anyone with information regarding the suspects’ whereabouts is advised to call 911 or the Huntington Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 304-696-4444.