Covington, Tenn.–At 4:19 AM Monday, officers from the Covington Police Department responded to an armed robbery call at Mapco located at 833 Highway 51 in Covington. While on the scene, officers spoke to the night cashier who stated that two males wearing all black came into the store and demanded cash at gunpoint.
The cashier also stated that one male stayed at the front door while the other male came around the counter armed with a black handgun. One of the would-be robbers threatened to shoot the cashier if she pressed the panic button. The cashier was unable to unlock the register, resulting in both suspects fleeing on foot empty handed.
CPD officers observed camera footage showing the suspects entering Mapco at approximately 4:13 AM. The first male entered wearing one blue glove, a black hoodie, and a ski mask. The second male appeared to be wearing a black zip-up hoodie, black pants with a small white logo located on the front of the left leg of his pants, and a ski mask. Detectives worked with the Mapco staff and retrieved the surveillance video footage confirming the cashier’s sequence of events. Officers began canvassing the area for additional information on the duo. Detectives confirmed on surveillance video two subjects matching the descriptions walking in the Broadmeadow Place Apartments located at 150 Peeler Road in Covington, Tennessee after the robbery. Detectives, intel analysts, and the CPD Drone Unit assisted in surveillance in the investigation.
On 06 January 2025 at approximately 6:30 PM, the alleged suspects were located in an apartment at the Broadmeadow Place Apartments. Detectives at the apartment recovered a 9MM pistol with an extended magazine believed to be used during the robbery and clothing items matching the robbers in a closet. The subjects, now identified as 16- and 17-year-old juveniles, one from Covington and one from Ripley, TN, were transported to the Covington Police Department Criminal Investigation Division for interviews. The juveniles’ parents responded to assist in the interviews and the investigation into the incident.
Detectives confirmed the recovered pistol had multiple firearm parts connected to crimes in at least two other states, one being an armed robbery. One serial number on the pistol had been altered and detectives are working jointly with Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm (ATF) agents to connect the firearm with other jurisdictions cases.
The juveniles are being formally charged with Attempted Aggravated Robbery and will appear in Tipton County Juvenile Court later this week. Both juveniles were transported to a Juvenile Facility awaiting their arraignment by Juvenile Judge Mo Eckel III.
“This is an example of our entire Department using technology and good police work to identify, locate, and arrest the alleged suspects in this robbery. We are glad that the cashier was not physically harmed during the incident.” said Chief Donna Turner “We appreciate the cooperation from the parents in this case and the opportunity to possibly keep these teens from making this choice again. The duo may face additional charges related to the firearm recovered in this case.”
If anyone has information in this investigation, please contact the CPD Criminal Investigations Division at 901-475-1261. Tips can be sent in through Facebook messenger Covington Police Department or the City of Covington website.