LITTLE ROCK — Authorities have arrested a 16-year-old Hall High School student on charges tied to the armed robbery of an individual near a Little Rock bank.
Police say additional charges are possible against Deshaun Rushing, who was arrested Friday night and is also suspected of being involved in two other armed robberies outside or near the same nearby Regions Bank, 10124 N. Rodney Parham Road.
Little Rock Police Department Sgt. Cassandra Davis said the investigation began the night of Sept. 11, when two robbers forced a man outside the bank to take money out of the ATM.
On Sept. 28, another man reported to police that two robbers approached him at the ATM and forced him to withdraw money, which they then stole.
Rushing was identified as a suspect after school resource officers recognized him from surveillance, police said.
On Friday, police were at the Regions Bank when they saw Rushing and another man walking in the area about 8 p.m. Davis said the two appeared to watch three people at the ATM but never made contact with them.
"At approximately 2115 hours, Detectives observed a single black male approach the area again in the parking lot of the closed El Chico's Restaurant located behind Regions Bank," Davis said in a statement. "The black male walked up to Enrique Salinas, who was walking through the parking lot, and displayed a handgun. Mr. Salinas stated that the suspect put the gun to his head and demanded his money."
Detectives intervened and ordered the man to drop the gun, but he was able to escape. Rushing was arrested a short time later at 1400 Old Forge Drive #2201.
He remained in the Pulaski County jail Monday in lieu of $15,000 bond.