Update: Myrtle Beach police make arrest in one of a series of Ocean Boulevard robberies
Myrtle Beach police investigated a series of reported armed robberies along the beach and at an Ocean Boulevard mini mart on Wednesday night and made an arrest Thursday afternoon.
A juvenile was arrested for the alleged robbery at Coral Sands Mini Mart at 302 North Ocean Boulevard, according to Myrtle Beach police, who provided a photo of the suspect prior to the arrest.
It’s unclear if the robberies — all reported within minutes of each other — are connected.
Several police cars with their lights on restricted traffic along Ocean Boulevard around midnight Thursday as officers were in the area. Caution tape was seen around the Mini Mart as police searched around the store.
The first incident was reported around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday when a woman near the beach and 5th Avenue North said she was robbed at gunpoint, according to police radio traffic. The suspect in that incident was a white man, 5-foot-4 with short hair, a white bandanna covering his face and a red polo.
A shooting was reported at the Mini Mart minutes later. Police later indicated it was an armed robbery with possible shots fired, but nobody was hurt. A suspect in that robbery was described as a young man with a red shirt and dark pants.
The third robbery was reported about 10 minutes later near 8th Avenue North and the beach when a man said he was the victim of an armed robbery. One suspect had a gun, was 5-foot-5 with a red bandanna. The other suspect was taller wearing unknown clothing.
The incidents are the latest in a string of reported violent crimes that have plagued Ocean Boulevard in recent weeks. Several shootings happened along the stretch, including one that involved rival gangs allegedly firing across the street at each other.
This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 2:09 AM.
