By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

Two LaPlace teenagers were arrested Sunday night in connection with an alleged armed robbery and carjacking that occurred on Greenwood Drive Saturday, according to a release from the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office.

O’Nijae Love, 17, of 983 Whitlow Court, and a 16-year-old male were arrested around 10:15 p.m. Sunday after sheriff’s deputies found them at a convenience store sitting inside the stolen car, said Dane Clement, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office. Clement said two other men were inside the car when deputies arrived at the store, located at the intersection of Airline Highway and U.S. Highway 51, but they fled the scene on foot.

According to a Sheriff’s Office release, an 18-year-old LaPlace woman and a 19-year-old Lafayette man told authorities they were sitting in the woman’s car around 10 p.m. Saturday at Greenwood Park in the 300 block of Greenwood Drive when they were approached by two males with a handgun.

Clement said the suspect holding the gun told the male victim to get out of the car. He said the suspect then grabbed the victim from behind, threw him out of the car and began to punch and kick him while he was on the ground.

Meanwhile, the second man grabbed the female victim and forced her to give him her car keys, Clement said. She was able to escape his grasp, but both suspects managed to leave the scene in the female victim’s 2009 Mazda 6. The male victim’s wallet was still inside the car when the suspects pulled away, according to the release.

Clement said the male victim suffered a large cut above his left eye that required medical attention, but he said the female was not injured in the attack.

Both Love and the 16-year old were initially charged with possession of stolen property. As the investigation continued Monday, Clement said the 16-year-old was also charged with armed robbery after investigators determined he was one of the men at the scene Saturday. Clement said bonds were not set, and more charges could be forthcoming.

Detectives are still searching for the other two men in the vehicle. Anyone with any information about the incident should contact the St. John Sheriff’s Office at 985-652-6338 or CrimeStoppers at 504-822-1111.