Hamilton police have charged Michael Lionelli, 18, of Valley View Road in Hamilton, and two juveniles, a 17-year-old Hamilton male and a 16-year-old Lawrence female.
HAMILTON -- A helpful witness and an alert Lawrence police officer led Hamilton police to three teenagers charged in connection with the armed robbery of the CVS pharmacy on Route 33 at White Horse Avenue, police said.
Hamilton detectives have charged Michael Lionelli, 18, of Valley View Road in Hamilton, and two juveniles, a 17-year-old Hamilton male and a 16-year-old Lawrence female, in connection with the Sunday night holdup.
Lionelli is a student at Hamilton High School West, officials said.
File photo Hamilton police Capt. James Stevens said officers were alerted to the robbery at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Officers arrived and were met by an employee who said the store had just been held up by a white male who wore a mask and brandished a handgun.
Stevens said the robber walked into the store wearing dark pants, a dark hooded sweatshirt and the ski mask and approached an employee and directed the employee back to a front register, Stevens said.
After receiving a quantity of cash, the robber fled the store and out of sight, Stevens said
Responding officers went into the adjoining neighborhood of Osage and Fernwood avenues and found a woman who saw a male run to a car that had been parked nearby with its lights off.
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Stevens said before entering the car, the male said, "Let's get out of here."
The witness was able to describe the vehicle and Hamilton officers broadcast a description over police radio to area police departments.
Lawrence police Sgt. RJ Laird heard the report and spotted a car matching the description in the 1300 block of Brunswick Avenue and pulled it over without incident, Stevens said. Lionelli and the teens were inside.
A short time later, the CVS employee identified Lionelli as the alleged robber, Stevens said.
Lionelli is charged with robbery and weapon violations as well as employing a juvenile in commission of a crime, and held initially on $225,000 cash-only bail. The juveniles were charged with related offenses.
Hamilton detectives were still investigating the crime Tuesday and will be searching the car pulled over by Lawrence police with a search warrant, Stevens said.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.