Authorities in Johnston County has arrested and charged 18-year-olds Malik Roberts and Tayshaun Whitner, along with 19-year-old LaTraviun Parker, for allegedly ambushing an elderly 66-year-old woman and robbing her in her own driveway.
The Robbery
It all started on Friday, November 8, when the victim was shopping at the Walmart on North Brightleaf Boulevard. As she struggled to load groceries into her vehicle, a seemingly helpful young man stepped forward, offering assistance. What appeared to be an act of kindness quickly unraveled into an alleged pre-meditated robbery.
The three culprits followed the elderly woman home. As she began unloading her groceries, two more men suddenly appeared, ambushing her in her driveway. Claiming to be armed with a shotgun, they snatched her purse and fled in an unidentified vehicle. Despite her suspicions of being followed from the store, she told investigators that she never saw a car trailing her.
The Arrests
By Thursday afternoon, Johnston County deputies had tracked down and arrested Roberts, Whitner, and Parker. Each faces multiple felony charges, including common law robbery, conspiracy, and obtaining property by false pretense.
- Malik Roberts, 18
- LaTraviun Parker, 19
- Tyshaun Whitner, 18
LaTraviun Parker, a North Edgecombe graduate and celebrated 1A Track and Field champion, traded his future for handcuffs, while Northampton County High School alum Malik Roberts, once a promising basketball star, now faces a far less glamorous spotlight. Tayshaun Whitner, the third suspect, rounds out the trio accused of turning a simple shopping trip for the victim into a terrifying ordeal.
Victim Injured In Robbery
The victim sustained minor injuries but faced significant financial losses. The robbers made off with her purse containing credit cards, a driver’s license, cash, gift cards, a phone, and a necklace, totaling approximately $1,600 in value. The stolen credit cards were later used for a spending spree across Benson, Selma, and Smithfield, racking up nearly $700 in fraudulent charges.
Warrants and Bonds
According to warrants obtained by The North Carolina Beat, all three men are accused of robbing the victim by stealing her purse, which contained financial cards, a driver’s license, a phone, cash, gift cards, and a necklace, with a total value of $1,600.
For the felony conspiracy charge, all three suspects are accused of working together to plan and carry out the robbery. Additionally, they are charged with spending $678.44 using the victim’s Wells Fargo bank card.
Each suspect was given a $60,000 secured bond. Roberts and Whitner have since bonded out, while Parker remained in custody as of Friday morning.
4 thoughts on “Three Teens Arrested And Charged in Alleged Robbery After Following Elderly Smithfield Woman Home”
too cute to go to Jail, they gonna learn today
Crash out dummies, they was has been that turned into stick up kids. They look like rookies who got caught on their first time.
Tayshaun Whitner is the 3rd boy, they arrested him today.
Wow 3 young bums stealing from a senior woman because they can’t get a job smh. Shameful, very much so.