Police Still Searching For Second Robbery Suspect in Home Invasion

A 16-year old is charged in what police are calling a random and violent home invasion.

It happened around 5:00 a.m. Thursday at a home on Beaumont Avenue in Spartanburg. Police say two masked men entered the home by pulling open the screen door on the front porch. Diane Brown, 68, says she walked into the kitchen to see one of the men pointing a gun at her.

"He kept saying 'give me the money, give me the money!', but I told him I don't have any money," says Brown.

She says the robber became increasingly angry, insisting that she had money. She says he slapped her in the face several times as talked to her. Then her 9-year old grandson walked out of his bedroom. She says the robber told the boy to open his mouth, then to her horror, he placed the barrel of the pistol in the boy's mouth. She says she stepped in between her grandson and the robber and he hit her in the top of the head with the gun.

"The only thing I thought is: he's going to kill my grandson, and i didn't want that," says a crying Brown, "So I ran and jumped in between. I'd rather have me dead than him."

Brown suffered a cut on the top of her head from being hit with the gun. She says when the robbers realized she really didn't have any money, they demanded her car keys. Then they took her cell phone, a television, $30 in cash and rolled coins, and her grandson's piggy bank and began putting the items in her car.

Fortunately, Brown's neighbor heard the commotion and called 911. A Spartanburg Public Safety officer arrived in time to see one of the robbers pointing a gun at Brown. The other robber, who was carrying stolen loot to the car, took off on foot when he saw the patrol car pulling up. Police arrested Cedrick Rookard, 16, at the scene. He is charged with armed robbery, burglary, two counts of assault and battery high and aggravated, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime and appeared before a magistrate Thursday evening.

Police say Rookard has not been cooperative, changing his story several times during questioning. They say he has given them a name for the second suspect, but they do not know if he is being truthful and have not yet located a suspect by that name. Officers are still looking for the second robber. If you have any information, call Crimestoppers at 58-CRIME.

News Channel 7 reported Friday morning that Rookard had a bond hearing scheduled today. The 7th Circuit Solicitors Office says his charges require an appearance in General Sessions Court, but no special hearings are scheduled Friday to their knowledge.