MNPD officials said the 65-year-old suspect, later identified as Willie, reportedly used a large knife to rob a 36-year-old educator on campus. The teacher, who was not identified, reportedly told investigators that she was confronted by Willie in the parking lot.
“The victim reported that a stranger, subsequently identified as Willie, approached, pulled a butcher knife, and demanded her cash. When she told Willie that she had no money, he robbed her of her keys, cell phone, watch, and air pods.
She said he then made her go into the gym, where he pushed her into a closet. He then fled in the victim’s Honda Accord,” the release states.
Willie was taken into custody and later charged with aggravated robbery with a weapon. When he was arrested, the 65-year-old suspect reportedly confessed to robbing the teacher and then showed police where he had parked her car.
Additional charges against Willie are expected to be filed. According to L&C, probable cause affidavit provided additional details regarding the alleged robbery. During an interview with investigators, the teacher told police that Willie was holding a large butcher knife when he approached her, forced her into the school gym, and demanded her money. After taking her electronics and keys, he also allegedly said that he would have killed her if not for her race.
“I’m not going to hurt you but if you were a white b***h I’d kill you,” he reportedly said to the teacher. The teacher also noted that the closet she was forced into inside the gym automatically locked her inside when the door closed, per reports. Police officials said the 36-year-old woman then continued to bang on the closet door and call for help until a group of students heard her and let her out. It was not immediately clear how long she was trapped in the closet.
