The final two suspects wanted in the armed robbery of a Lauderdale Lakes restaurant have been arrested, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.
Two 17-year-old boys were taken into custody Wednesday. The Sun Sentinel isn’t identifying them because of their ages.
Their accomplice, Lovekens Cherelus, 18, of Tamarac, was arrested Saturday, officials said. A fourth suspect, Ralph Estelhomme, 19, of Lauderdale Lakes, was apprehended the night of the robbery.
Deputies said the foursome on March 28 walked up to employees of La Granja at 3399 N. State Road 7, as they were closing the store up just after 11 p.m.
Three employees were waiting in a van outside of the restaurant while a manager was still inside. The robbers were dressed all in black, and one of them had a shotgun while two others had handguns, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Three of the men forced the employees out of the van and back into the restaurant, according to the agency. The employees were held hostage, and the men threatened to shoot them in the head while they demanded money, deputies said.
A fourth man acted as a lookout outside the restaurant, deputies said.
All four fled the scene, but deputies in the area spotted Estelhomme in a nearby parking lot with a shotgun, officials said. He tried to flee and jumped into a canal, but deputies waited for him on the other side, according to the agency.
All four suspects are facing robbery-related charges.
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