Five Teens Arrested Following Crime Spree, Police Chase In East Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Five teens are in custody after committing a series of crimes and leading police on a chase, Thursday night.

The CMPD says at a round 7 p.m. on November 16, 2017, officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 2300 block of Dunlavin Way but did not locate anything.

Around 7:41 p.m., officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 2300 block of Eastway Drive.  Arriving officers spoke with victims who stated that they heard gunshots and noticed pieces of their ceiling falling inside the apartment. Officers found shell casings in the parking lot and bullet holes in the interior and exterior of the apartment.

Shortly thereafter, around 7:45 p.m., officers responded to an armed robbery call in the 4500 block of Central avenue.  Officers spoke with victims who stated that as they were parking, a car pulled up behind them and five subjects got out of the vehicle and demanded their phones and money at gunpoint before leaving the scene.

At about 9:34 p.m., CMPD officers located the suspect vehicle i nthe Wendy’s drive through at the intersection of Central Avenue and Eastway Drive.

The suspect vehicle fled when officers attempted a traffic stop and a chase ensued.   The suspect vehicle crashed at the dead end of Falmouth Road and Enfield Road, and the suspects fled the scene on foot.

The CMPD set up a perimeter and were able to detain all five suspects.  Two firearms were located inside the suspect vehicle and the shell casings located at an earlier crime scene matched the make and model of one of the firearms found inside the vehicle.

John Benitez, 18, has been charged with Shooting into Occupied Dwelling, 5 counts of Misdemeanor Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 6 counts of Armed Robbery, 6 counts of  Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Assault on a Child under 12 and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.

Sergio Madrano,19, has been charged with Shooting into Occupied Dwelling, 5 counts of Misdemeanor Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 6 counts of Armed Robbery, 6 counts of  Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.

Brandon Alexander De La Cerda, 19, has been charged with Shooting into Occupied Dwelling, 5 counts of Misdemeanor Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 6 counts of Armed Robbery, 6 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Felony Speed to Elude, Failure to Heed and Driving While License Revoked.

Juan Christian Santiago-Flores, 19, has been charged with Shooting into Occupied Dwelling, 5 counts of Misdemeanor Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 6 counts of Armed Robbery, 6 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.

Jerry Aguilar, 18, has been charged with Shootng into Occupied Dwelling, 5 counts of Misdemeanor Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 6 counts of Armed Robbery, 6 counts of  Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.