Newport News, Va. – Police say a teen wanted in an attempted robbery reported by a student at Menchville High School has turned himself in.
Police say 18-year-old Latavis Dethomas Crocker of the 500 block of Coral Court in Newport News is now in custody. Crocker is charged with one count each of robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm on school grounds.
Officials say on Tuesday afternoon, a 17-year-old student at Menchville High School told the school resource officer that he had been the victim of a robbery while in the bathroom.
The student says that while he was in the bathroom, the suspect produced a handgun and demanded his property.
The victim told police that he told he suspect he did not have anything and the suspect left the area and was last seen walking toward the neighborhood near the school property.
No injuries were reported.
Police are still investigating this case.
Some parents told NewsChannel 3 they're upset to hear this could happen, since Menchville has metal detectors.
"They’ve got the equipment to prevent it, and they’re not using it, so it’s frustrating," said Kim Roddey.
School spokesperson Michelle Price says the metal detectors and wands at the school are used at random. Price says they occasionally require all students to go through the metal detectors, but it can take up to two hours.
As for Crocker, he has faced a number of charges in the past. According to court documents, he had 12 charges in May in connection to an armed robbery and carjacking. According to the prosecutor in the case, the charges were not pursued, though, because a material witness in the case did not show up to court.
