Four teens have been charged in connection with three robberies in the county. One of those arrested was a student at Newberry High School and was at school with a loaded gun in his vehicle.

The heists included robberies at the Citgo on Wilson Road, the Citgo on Highway 76 in Prosperity and the Lil’ Cricket on Kendall Road.

Sheriff Lee Foster says it was the partnership of law enforcement and the community that led to the arrest of the suspects.

The group has been charged with robbing the Citgo on Wilson Road at gunpoint Wednesday.

Information deputies received from the community led investigators to the home of Malcolm Jones, 18, of 27857 Highway 76, Kinards.

During a search of the home, the investigators found a bag they believe was used in one of the robberies, face coverings, and merchandise from the robbery, said Foster, adding Jones was arrested during the search.

“Subsequent investigation led officers to issue search warrants for two homes in Newberry County,” said Foster.

Sheriff’s Office deputies and Newberry police converged on the residences Thursday morning finding guns, clothing, and additional merchandise from the robbery.

“It was then that the investigation took one of its scariest turns as one of the suspects was a student at Newberry High School,” Foster says.

Investigators went to Newberry High School and met with the school resource officer.

“Working together, they located a loaded .45 caliber pistol in a book bag on the front seat of the suspect’s vehicle in the school parking lot.”

James Ojore Tribble, 17, of 625 Dixie Drive, Newberry, was taken into custody at the school.

Subsequently, two other suspects, Keon Elkins and Horace Maybin, were later arrested.

As investigators began piecing together the details of the robbery, officers allege that it was Elkins and Jones who went into the store during the robbery, while Tribble and Maybin waited in the getaway vehicle.

Investigators say that since Thursday morning, they have connected the suspects to similar robberies in the cities of Newberry and Clinton, and in Laurens and Richland counties.

“Investigators from all of the agencies are working together to share information and evidence against the suspects,” said Foster.

Newberry Police Chief Jackie Swindler said that three of the men face charges in the city.

Horace Rashad Maybin, 18, and Keon Morquel Elkins, 18, both of 51 Oak Hollow Road, Newberry, and Tribble, are charged with one count of armed robbery and conspiracy each.

The threesome is accused of robbing the Little Cricket on Kendall Road Dec. 28, 2009.

Two of the three teens entered the store with a pistol, officers say, demanding money from the manager. The incident happened around 1 a.m., and the two thiefs fled the store with three pornography magazines and less than $100, said Newberry Police Captain Chuck Counts.

One of the robbers jumped the counter with a pistol demanding money. The manager emptied the convenience store’s cash drawer into a bag the men brought in.

Tribble, Jones and Maybin have also been charged with the armed robbery of Robert’s Citgo in Prosperity on Dec. 30, 2009.

The three are accused of taking an undisclosed amount of money from the cash drawer, $50 worth of Newport cigarettes and $130 worth of cigars.

Elkins is charged with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of conspiracy by the Sheriff’s Office.

Jones is charged with armed robbery and conspiracy by the Sheriff’s Office.

Maybin is charged with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of conspiracy by the Sheriff’s Office.

Tribble is charged with two counts of armed robbery; two counts of conspiracy; and carrying a weapon on school grounds by the Sheriff’s Office.

Bond has been set at $100,000 each for Maybin, Elkins and Tribble on the Newberry City charges.

No bond has been set by magistrates for the Sheriff’s Office charges at press time.

“It was the partnership of law enforcement agencies who realized the similarities in the robberies as well as the substantial information received from the community who are willing to work with law enforcement to remove suspects like this from the streets and community,” said Foster.