Three suspects wanted for the armed robbery of a couple walking home from a Fourth of July party were arrested Tuesday by Starkville police.
The Starkville Police Department and Oktibbeha County Sheriff”s Department arrested 28-year-old Kizzy Campbell and 20-year-old Lisa Brown Tuesday at about 11:30 a.m. in the Sunset subdivision area west of Starkville. A tip led to the two women, Starkville Police Department Sgt. Chadd Garnett said.
Police also discovered the third suspect, 20-year-old Ismail Smith, has parents in Clay County. Officers from the Starkville Police Department”s Community-Oriented Policing unit then coordinated with the Clay County Sheriff”s Department to make the arrest, but Smith already was on his way to Starkville and turned himself in to police at about 2:30 p.m., Garnett said.
All three suspects were charged with armed robbery. Campbell”s bond was set at $15,000, while bonds for Smith and Brown were set at $5,000, Garnett said.
If convicted, the suspects could face a minimum of three years in prison; they also could face a life sentence, if decided upon by a jury.
According to police, a male and a female left a Fourth of July party in the Caldwell Street area last Sunday and encountered the three suspects at a nearby store. Later that night, the suspects” vehicle, an older model Chevrolet, pulled up in front of the party and the suspects said they were having car troubles, police said.
The male and female helped the suspects put water and oil in the car, and the suspects left.
Around 2 a.m. on July 5, the male and female victim were walking home when they heard the Chevrolet approach. When they turned around, they saw the vehicle rolling slowly with its lights off, police said.
The male and female ran, but were caught by Smith, who had his hand “wrapped up” and told the victims he had a gun. He threatened to kill the male and female victims if they didn”t hand over their money, police said.
Smith grabbed the female victim”s purse, returned to the vehicle and the three suspects fled.
Police later found the purse behind America”s Best Value Inn. Officers also recovered the car that morning in the Hancock Circle area, behind Hardee”s.
Police were able to identify Campbell because she had borrowed the vehicle from a friend. Following additional tips, the victims were able to identify all three suspects from a photo lineup, police said.
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