16-year-old charged with armed robbery in Valdosta

VALDOSTA, Ga. – According to our news partners with Adel News Tribune,

On August 15, 2025, at 11:50 p.m., Valdosta Police Officers, along with officers from the Valdosta State University Police Department and the Remerton Police Department, and deputies with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, responded to Circle K at 511 N. St. Augustine Road, after the clerk called E911 to report an armed robbery to the business.  The clerk reported that the offender appeared to be a younger black male, and he had a rifle-style firearm.  The offender brandished the gun at the clerk, then grabbed an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register.

Law Enforcement arrived at the convenience store within seconds of the call being dispatched.  As officers were searching the area for the offender, they located a black rifle-style BB gun lying in a field beside the store.  Within minutes of the initial call, officers located a 16-year-old male juvenile, who was hiding behind a school that was located close to the store.  The juvenile cooperated with officers, and he was taken into custody without incident.

Valdosta Police Department Detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to the scene to investigate the robbery.

After the investigation, detectives spoke with representatives from the Department of Juvenile Justice, who authorized the juvenile’s detention at a Regional Youth Detention Center for the charge of armed robbery.

“The quick response and teamwork by several law enforcement agencies resulted in this juvenile being arrested quickly.  The BB gun used by this juvenile did not look like a toy.  Thankfully, he had dropped the BB gun and cooperated with officers.  This situation could have turned out very differently if law enforcement had encountered him while he was still carrying it, especially in an area that was not well-lit.”  Said Chief Leslie Manahan.

If anyone has any further information on this case or any other cases, please get in touch with the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department.

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