3 Rock Hill teens denied bond in attempted robbery, shooting of 15-year-old

Three Rock Hill teens were arrested and denied bond after a 15-year-old boy was shot in the stomach during an attempted robbery Tuesday afternoon, according to Rock Hill Police.

The victim was shot on a walking trail near Sunset Drive and Allen Street in Rock Hill about 3:30 p.m., police said.

Devan Anthony Johnson, 17, Elijah Isaiah McKnight, 17, and Ahlaysha Destiny Locke, 18, all of Rock Hill, were charged and denied bond in a hearing Wednesday.

Capt. Mark Bollinger, spokesman for Rock Hill Police, said the suspects were arrested after the area of the shooting, just blocks from the police department.

Police said the three teens approached two boys on the trail with two guns. One of the boys dove into the creek to escape, and the other was shot in the stomach and “left for dead,” Det. Ryan Thomas of the Rock Hill Police Department said.

Bollinger said the suspects attempted to rob the victim of marijuana and personal belongings, and said Johnson is accused of shooting the victim.

The 15-year-old was visiting his father, who lives in Rock Hill, said the boy’s mother, Heddar Baxter of Edgemoor.

“They’re country boys, they’re not used to the city,” Baxter said.

She said her son is stable at an area hospital, but in a lot of pain. He was airlifted to the hospital Tuesday afternoon.

Baxter said her son plays football and basketball in school.

“He’s a really bright student,” she said.

The victim’s father, who asked not to be identified, said the two boys were riding bikes and had been playing with remote-controlled cars earlier Tuesday, befor the shooting.

Thomas said two of the suspects, Johnson and Locke, are full gang members, and McKnight is an associate of the two. All three had previous criminal charges.

Johnson and McKnight both dropped out of school before graduating high school, they said during their bond hearings. Locke is in 12th grade.

Johnson is charged with attempted murder, attempted armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a violent crime, possession of a pistol by a person under 18 and simple possession of marijuana.

McKnight is charged with attempted armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a violent crime, possession of a pistol by a person under 18 and possession of a stolen pistol.

Locke is charged with attempted armed robbery, criminal conspiracy and simple possession of marijuana.

This story was originally published January 10, 2018 at 10:35 AM with the headline "3 Rock Hill teens denied bond in attempted robbery, shooting of 15-year-old."