BURNSVILLE, Minn. — Three men are charged with felony aggravated robbery after prosecutors say they robbed a jewelry store using sledgehammers.
The incident happened Nov. 3 at a store on County Road 42 W in Burnsville. According to the criminal complaint, police responded to the store on a report of a robbery in progress. Dispatch told officers that a GPS tracker had been taken in the robbery, making it possible to locate the suspects.
When police arrived, they were told that three men had entered the store armed with sledgehammers, told employees and customers to get on the ground, and threatened to injure anyone who didn't comply.
The witnesses said the men began to break display cases and take jewelry, according to the complaint. There were six employees and six customers there at the time.
Prosecutors say the people who were present described being "in fear for my life," "petrified" and "scared to death."
Authorities learned that the previous day, Nov. 2, a man had come into the store, looking for a "bridal set in the dollar range of $15,000 to $18,000." The complaint states that the man asked if there were additional diamonds kept in a vault, and "appeared to be counting the number of display cases, familiarizing himself with the layout of the store."
Authorities say they were able to track down the suspects using the GPS tracking device that was taken in the robbery. Marquell Lamar Evans, 28; Trevon Shukur Edwards, 19; and Antoine Devell Scott, 26; are all charged with felony aggravated robbery.
