2 accused in Maple Avenue armed robbery are arrested

The clerk says Cequan H. McAllister, 17, fired a shot that missed her during the robbery.

A 17-year-old Roman was in jail without bond Sunday, accused of trying to rob a Maple Avenue grocery store with a revolver.

According to Rome Police Department and Floyd County Jail records:

Cequan H. McAllister, 17, of 80 Wilma Drive, is charged with felony armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and aggravated assault. He’s also facing misdemeanor charges of reckless conduct and possession of a firearm by a person under 18.

Andre Lorenzo Dupree, 21, of 104 Charles St., is charged with being a party to the crime, a felony, and also had no bond set.

The clerk said the two, who were regular customers at the 1308 Maple Ave. store, came in just after 5:30 p.m. Saturday. When McAllister pulled out a gun, she told him to stop playing and that she was going to call police. Dupree tried to open the door leading behind the counter, but she pulled it closed.

At that point, McAllister reached over the counter to open the cash register. The gun was pointing at her and he fired, but missed. The two then ran out of the store and she called police.

Officers searching the area got a tip that the two people were in a nearby wooded area and captured them in the 300 block of East 19th Street. Both denied trying to rob the store.

Police also found a loaded .32 revolver with a spent round in the chamber abandoned at East 19th and Crane streets, which is why reckless conduct charges were filed.