COLUMBUS – Two Westerville South High School students are charged with luring a man with an offer to buy a gaming system, then beating and robbing him.
Columbus police say Zachariah James and Tyrese Roberts were among a group of suspects who agreed to meet a man on Victory Court on Oct. 31 and buy a gaming system advertised on the OfferUp app, according to Columbus police Robbery Unit Det. Phillips Thomas.
They teens and their accomplices then beat the victim with a crowbar and baseball bat and stole $200 and the game system, Thomas said.
Thomas says James, 15, and Roberts, 16, were arrested Wednesday on charges of robbery, felonious assault and kidnapping and James may face additional charges from Westerville officials because he was caught with a set of brass knuckles at school Wednesday.
Additional suspects are being sought in the case and Thomas says anyone with any information can call the Columbus police Robbery Unit at 614-645-4588.