An incident of attempted armed robbery involving two teenagers unfolded in Columbia, where quick thinking and awareness on the part of the delivery driver thwarted the plan. On a Thursday afternoon, the teens placed an order for food delivery at an apartment complex on Ripplemeyer Avenue. Upon arrival, the driver cross-referenced details from the delivery app and detected discrepancies in their story. Sensing something amiss, the driver returned to his vehicle, which held three relatives, including two children as passengers.

The situation escalated when surveillance footage revealed that one of the teens obstructed the vehicle’s path, attempting to prevent its departure. Subsequently, the older teen approached the car wielding a firearm, striking the door window before the driver managed to escape with his family unharmed. Law enforcement later recovered a stolen weapon linked to the crime inside an adjacent apartment. Both juveniles were apprehended and brought to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.

This event underscores the critical need for addressing youth access to firearms and the importance of community vigilance in preventing such incidents. Police Chief Skip Holbrook expressed concern over the growing trend of minors engaging in serious criminal activities typically associated with adults. The charges against the teens include attempted armed robbery, multiple counts of kidnapping, and conspiracy, alongside additional firearm-related offenses for the older juvenile. Such cases highlight the necessity of proactive measures to safeguard communities and steer young individuals toward positive paths.