Douglas County prosecutors charge two juveniles in armed robbery

Douglas County prosecutors Friday charged two juvenile suspects who were apprehended Thursday in connection with a reported armed robbery at a Lawrence apartment.

District Attorney Charles Branson said Friday prosecutors had charged each juvenile with two counts of aggravated robbery, three counts of aggravated assault, one count of aggravated burglary and one count of conspiracy. He said both juveniles are 17 years old.

At 3:30 p.m. Thursday, a resident in an apartment in the 1900 block of Stewart Avenue alleged two suspects robbed him and three other people, said Sgt. Matt Sarna, a Lawrence police spokesman. The victim told police one of the suspects was armed with what appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun and that they took cash and a laptop computer from the apartment.

No injuries were reported.

About six hours later, officers took two suspects into custody after one suspect was spotted near Ninth and Iowa streets, police said. Branson said the two boys will have detention hearings next week.