Lyons, N.Y. --- Three men are facing charges after police say they broke into a Lyons home and held a 70 year-old woman at gunpoint while robbing her of valuables.
Shaka Nesmith, 18, Karon James, 20, and a 14-year-old broke into a home on VanMarte Lane around 1:30 Thursday morning according to police. Nesmith and the 14 year-old whose name is not being released are charged with 1st Degree Robbery and 1st Degree Burglary. James faces a charge of Conspiracy to Commit robbery.
"I intend to charge that 14 year-old as an adult," Wayne County District Attorney Richard Healy said. “I mean they robbed a person, an elderly person, in her home at night I mean it doesn't get too much more serious than that."
Police say they held the woman who lived there at gunpoint and stole jewelry and cash from her home. The masked suspects then got into a car and left but an alert neighbor called 911 and gave a description of the suspicious vehicle.
When police spotted the car, the driver led police on a brief chase before he was arrested. A second suspect tried to run away, but was also caught. Additional information helped police arrest the third suspect.
Police also found two loaded handguns and stolen property on the suspects.
"These were certainly high-powered, modern, high-capacity handguns," Lyons Village Police Chief Richard Bogan said.
Authorities are continuing to investigate this crime to see if any others suspects could be involved. An additional investigation into where the loaded handguns came from is also underway.
“These were loaded handguns that were used in this case (and) one of the handguns the serial number was scratched off the gun,” said D.A. Healy.
Police have also obtained information that suggests one or all of these suspects have possible ties to gang activity in Rochester where each currently lives.
“Fortunately Rochester Police Department keeps meticulous data on people they have contact with during the course of their normal business in the city,” said Lyons Police Chief Bogan. “From that data we believe that these people do have some association with the targeted groups in the City of Rochester and that makes us that much more curious as to how they're finding their way out to our village."
Nesmith and James are being held in the Monroe County Jail on $25,000 bail or $50,000 bond. The 14-year-old suspect is being held in a juvenile facility on the same amount.
They will appear in court later this month.
