Utica police arrest two suspects, including 13-year-old, in armed robbery of student

Utica Police arrest two suspects, including 13-year-old, in armed robbery of student

Posted by
1 min read
February 28, 2026

Investigators say the pair robbed a juvenile walking home from school and displayed a handgun during the incident.

Utica, N.Y. – Two suspects, one of them just 13 years old, have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery that took place last week on Walnut Street, according to the Utica Police Department.

The robbery occurred around 2:40 p.m. on February 23, 2026, on the 1200 block of Walnut Street as the juvenile victim was walking home from school.


Key Points

  • The suspects wore masks and demanded the victim’s property.
  • One of the suspects displayed a handgun during the robbery.
  • A 13-year-old and 18-year-old Ja’hmear Sullivan were later arrested and charged with robbery in the second degree.

Robbery and investigation

Police said several masked individuals approached the victim and demanded personal belongings. During the encounter, one suspect reportedly lifted his waistband to reveal a handgun, while another forcibly snatched the victim’s bag and other property.

The group then fled the area, and the victim was able to make it home safely before reporting the incident to police.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division and the Juvenile Aid Division launched an investigation that quickly led to the identification of two main suspects.

On February 26, both were located and taken into custody.

Arrests and charges

Police identified the adult suspect as Ja’hmear Sullivan, 18, and confirmed that the second suspect is a 13-year-old male, whose name will not be released because of his age.

Both were charged with robbery in the second degree. The 13-year-old was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Probation/Family Court, while Sullivan was processed on the same charge.

The investigation remains ongoing, and police have not ruled out additional arrests.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Utica Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 315-223-3510.

Tags: Utica Police, armed robbery, juvenile crime, Oneida County

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version