Joplin men arrested for armed robbery at Threads, store employee says AR style rifle used

(From the Joplin Police Department)

On June 10th, 2020 at approximately 5:00pm, officers with the Joplin Police Department responded to Threads at 1302 S. Virginia Avenue for a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred.

Two males were inside the business and one of them began concealing merchandise. When confronted by the store employees, both males exited the store and went to a vehicle.

The store employee followed the suspects to the vehicle and one of them pulled out an AR style rifle and displayed it at the store employee in a threatening manner.

Both suspects fled the scene in a white Cadillac. Ashort time later at approximately 6:48pm, deputies with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office located the suspects at 123 W 45th Street and were able to take them into custody without further incident.

Both suspects were turned over to Joplin officers and transported to the Joplin City Jail. The suspects were identified as Marvin E. Ward Jr., age 26, (top photo) and Elijah J. Ward, age 22,both of Joplin. On June 11th, charges of Robbery in the 1st Degree were filed against both suspects, each with a $50,000 cash only bond.