Man accused of robbing mall employees at gunpoint

BOARDMAN — A Lockwood Boulevard man is charged with two counts each of aggravated robbery and receiving stolen property, accused of robbing mall employees at gunpoint.

John Watkins, 19, was arrested about 10:30 p.m. Monday.

Employees from Auntie Ann’s, inside the Southern Park Mall, told police they walked out of the mall with the night deposit and saw a man, later identified as Watkins, approach from behind a trash bin and point a gun at them. He took a female employee’s purse, which contained the store’s night deposit, and the male employee’s wallet.

Watkins then patted both employees down and grabbed a bag of pretzels from the man before running away, according to the male employee. The woman called 911.

A police officer saw a man matching the robber’s description and jogging across California Avenue. The officer got out of his car, drew his gun and arrested him.