Pittsburgh man charged in mini-mart armed robbery

A Pittsburgh man has been charged in the May 26 armed robbery of a convenience store.

Jamill Roberts, 18, of the city’s Middle Hill neighborhood, was charged in connection with the robbery of the Samba Minimart on Bedford Avenue, according to court records.

Police said he is one of two men suspected in the robbery. According to a criminal complaint, one of the men pointed a gun at the cashier, saying, “Give me everything in the register. If you do anything, I’ll shoot you.” The other suspect held the store’s door and acted as a lookout, police said.

Surveillance camera footage from the city and Allegheny County Housing captured the men coming from the 2400 block of Bedford Avenue before the robbery and running in the same direction afterward, according to court documents. The cashier said both men were in the store roughly an hour before the robbery occurred.

On May 23, the housing cameras captured one of the suspects taking out a large trash bag, while wearing the same distinctive pair of “Rick and Morty”-branded sweatpants seen in video of the robbery. On May 30, police saw the same man leaving a residence on the 2400 block of Bedford Avenue and began monitoring his movements, according to court records.

Police followed as the man, later identified as Roberts, got into a gold SUV and began driving toward the city on Bedford Avenue. Police said they initiated a traffic stop and Roberts then sped up, turning onto Memory Lane without stopping, and running additional stop signs before losing control and hitting a stop sign as well as a fence near Catholic Charities on Bedford Avenue.

Roberts and a juvenile male both jumped out the car to flee, police said. Roberts was tackled to the ground, and the juvenile was taken into custody after a foot chase, according to a criminal complaint.

The vehicle in which Roberts fled was also reported as stolen, police said.

After being shown surveillance video stills, Roberts told police he had robbed the convenience store, the court documents said. Police searched the residence Roberts came out of, finding clothing worn during the robbery inside.

Police said they continue to seek the identity of the second suspect.

Roberts was charged with robbery, conspiracy, terroristic threats, receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking, resisting arrest, fleeing police, criminal mischief and several traffic violations.

He was denied bail and taken to the Allegheny County Jail. A June 10 preliminary hearing is set in Pittsburgh Municipal Court.