Three men and teen are accused of a series of armed street robberies in Kansas City
The Jackson County prosecutor has charged three men and a teenager in a series of armed robberies that began late Monday and ended early Tuesday following a police chase.
Tyrone E. Willard II, 19, Sheldon A. Wrightsman, 21, Cleveland Williams, 21, and Joshua A. Hanley, 26, all from Kansas City, each face four counts of first-degree robbery and four counts of armed criminal action.
According to court documents, the series of robberies began about 10:55 p.m. Monday near 41st and Baltimore. Two men said they were walking when two other men approached them, one of whom was carrying a handgun. The robbers demanded money. When the victims hesitated, the armed robber struck one of the victims in the head with a handgun.
The robbers fled with money and cellphones to a vehicle that was waiting nearby.
The robberies continued through the night into the next morning. In some of the robberies, victims told police that they were struck by the robbers.
The robberies came to an end when police tracked the suspects to 60th Street and Walrond Avenue about 2 a.m. Tuesday. The suspects tried to flee in a Pontiac coupe. Officer pursued the car to 55th Street and Norton Avenue, where it struck a curb.
The suspects fled on foot, but police captured them after a chase.
Prosecutors have asked for a cash bond of $150,000.
Robert A. Cronkleton: 816-234-4261, @cronkb
This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 9:36 PM with the headline "Three men and teen are accused of a series of armed street robberies in Kansas City."