AHOSKIE – One person is behind bars and another is being sought following an armed robbery of Trade/Wilco here Thursday night.

Michael Sessoms, 16, of Ahoskie was arrested just three over three hours after the 10:50 p.m. robbery was reported.

Initially, Sessoms was charged with felonious robbery with a dangerous weapon and placed in the Hertford County Jail under a $100,000 cash bond.

Later on Friday, warrants were drawn against Sessoms for simple assault and injury to personal property. Those warrants were served at the jail.

Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh reported that a clerk at the convenience store, located at 520 West Main Street, said two black males entered the store, both wearing blue and red bandanas which covered a portion of their faces.

After demanding money, the clerk said she knew one of the suspects (later determined to be Sessoms) by his nickname.

“When the clerk called him by his nickname, she said she was assaulted by the suspect,” Fitzhugh said. “That assault came in the form of apparent shots fired from some sort of weapon. The clerk said she heard loud pops and then her ears started ringing.”

Following the robbery, the clerk told police that the two men fled north on Academy Street, eventually scaling a fence at the old Ahoskie High School property.

APD officers n Detective Jeremy Roberts, Sgt. Brian Lassiter, Larry Belangia and Chad Wheeler n responded to the scene. Upon gaining information from the clerk, Sessoms was arrested at 2 a.m. Friday at his residence (1403 West First Street).

Chief Fitzhugh said not much was known about the second suspect other than he is a black male.

Those with information about the second suspect are urged to call the APD at 332-5011.

Fitzhugh praised the quick and professional work of his officers as they were able to quickly apprehend one of the suspects involved.