Deputies arrest three in robbery, shooting at gas station

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - None of the three men Escambia County deputies said were involved in an armed robbery of a Pensacola convenience store are over the age of 20.

In fact, Tyric Lowery is 16.

Yet, Sergeant Mike Ward of the Escambia County Sheriff's Office said the trio is responsible for robbing a Circle K and shooting its clerk late Monday night.

Ward said the victim's wounds were not life-threatening, the bullet went in his bicep and out his shoulder.

The clerk told deputies a masked man robbed the store and shot him, before making off with an undetermined amount of money.

A deputy said he saw the suspects’ white sedan soon after and pursued the teens.

Officials said the car chase ended in the 1800 block of West Jackson Street when the suspects plowed their car into the front porch of an unoccupied property.

"The suspects jumped out, ran. One of them was apprehended immediately," Ward said.  "The other two had to be tracked with a K-9 dog.  But once they were tracked, both of them were located and subsequently arrested."

Ward said cases like these are indicative of a growing trend in society.

"It does seem that today's youth, or younger generation, seems to be leaning more towards your violent-type crimes, which is certainly a concern for everybody- not just the sheriff's office, but the entire country," Ward said.

The adults, 19-year-old Bobby Elliot and Christopher Barge, 18, are in the Escambia County jail under $236,000 bond.

They face multiple felony charges.

Lowery was taken to the juvenile center.

The clerk was released from the hospital, and we're told he's doing okay.