On Sunday, October 6, 2024, at approximately 2:00 a.m., an Officer of the West Point Police Department was conducting a routine business check at the BP Station located at the intersection of East 10th Street and Kia Parkway. As the officer drove up to the business, the officer observed two individuals dress in all black. One of the individuals was carrying what appeared to be a crowbar or metal pipe. Once the individuals observed the officer, they fled on foot.

As other officers responded, a vehicle was located, abandoned parked on Kia Parkway near the access road to the BP Station. The vehicle was believed to be the BP Station suspect’s vehicle, and the vehicle was towed.

As officers canvased the area of Kia Parkway and Kia Boulevard, the two suspects, dressed in all black were observed on Kia Boulevard near Sandtown Road. Once the suspects observed the officers, they fled into the wood line.

On Monday, October 7, 2024, Investigators of the West Point Police Department began an investigation into the abandoned vehicle recovered near the BP Station. As a result, it was identified as being registered to an individual on Pioneer Drive in LaGrange, Georgia.

Investigators traveled to the Pioneer Drive address, spoke with the registered owner of the vehicle. At that time, the owner identified her juvenile grandson as the driver of the vehicle.

Investigators requested to speak with the juvenile, which was granted. Investigators, along with the juvenile and the grandparents traveled to the West Point Police Department. At the Police Department, Investigators questioned the juvenile. Upon questioning the juvenile, the identity of the second suspect was learned. A Troup County Sheriff’s Investigator was dispatched to the second suspect’s residence, a Gabbetville Road address, and transported the juvenile to the West Point Police Department.

Upon interviewing both juveniles, they both confessed to committing the Criminal Attempt (Burglary) at the BP Station and Burglary at Ribitz’s on US 29. The juveniles were charged in the BP Station incident with Criminal Attempt (Burglary), Possession of Burglary tools, and Possession of a firearm by a minor. Troup County Sheriff’s office will have similar charges for the Ribitz’s burglary.