Two teenagers arrested for robbery at Pronto Plus in Spokane Valley

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Two teenagers were arrested for a robbery at Pronto Plus in Spokane Valley Wednesday evening.

According to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, calls came in about a robbery in progress at Pronto Plus around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The caller said they were holding the doors closed and the store employee was wrestling with someone behind the counter.

When deputies arrived, a 17-year-old suspect ran to the back of the store while the store employee chased him holding a wooden stick. A second teenage suspect fled on foot before deputies arrived.

The deputy drew his pistol on the first suspect, who SCSO said was gripping his waistband as if he were holding a weapon. The suspect was told to show his hands but did not listen. SCSO said the suspect yelled at the deputy to shoot him.

The deputy drew out his taser instead and fired at the suspect. The suspect fell to the ground and was later taken into custody. A search showed the suspect was unarmed.

SCSO began searching nearby for the second suspect. Soon after, another deputy saw a teenager meeting the suspect’s description near 16th Avenue and South Pines Road.

The second suspect, a 15-year-old male, was safely detained moments later.

The store employee said both suspects entered the store and split up. The 15-year-old hid a drink in his waistband while the first went up to the counter to buy a vape. When the employee refused to sell the 17-year-old a vape, he said he had a gun and told the employee to put money in a blue bag.

The employee refused and the 17-year-old began grabbing items from behind the counter and putting them in the bag. SCSO said the employee grabbed the wooden stick and began hitting the teenager multiple times.

The 15-year-old fled through the front door right when another customer entered. That customer called 911.

Both teenagers were charged with first-degree robbery. The 17-year-old was taken to the hospital and later booked into Spokane County Juvenile Justice Center. The 15-year-old was also booked into Spokane County Juvenile Justice Center.