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Cops nabbed three West Babylon residents Tuesday for allegedly carrying out a smash-and-grab style robbery at Smith Haven Mall that turned violent when a 17-year-old employee was punched while trying to stop them, police said.
The incident unfolded Tuesday, Jan. 13, at EPIC Outfitters in Lake Grove at 6:48 p.m. — peak shopping hours inside the busy mall. Suffolk Police said three adults walked into the store with two small children, grabbed armfuls of clothing and headed straight for the door without paying.
When the young employee stepped in and confronted them, the response was swift and brutal, authorities said. The teen was struck multiple times in the face as the suspects forced their way out, according to police.
The group then fled the mall in a car. The teen was treated at the scene and refused further medical care.
Police caught up with two of the suspects the next day, when Suffolk Police First Precinct patrol officers spotted a 2015 Chrysler linked to the robbery on Oregon Road in West Babylon and conducted a traffic stop.
Officers arrested Nyrell Hernandez, 26, and Sheyanna Bussi, 23. The same children who were present during the mall robbery were also in the vehicle at the time of the arrest and were later released to family members, police said.
The third suspect, Kyndrell Adams, 21, was arrested Tuesday at First District Court in Central Islip. He has been arrested multiple times over the past two years — for drug and gun related charges, as well as other alleged offenses.
The three suspects — all listed as living at the same Gordon Ave. address in West Babylon — are charged with second-degree robbery and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Hernandez also faces an array of traffic offenses. Bussi has been previously arrested and is currently charged with grand larceny, robbery and petit larceny in other active court cases.
Hernandez and Bussi were arraigned Jan. 15 at First District Court in Central Islip. Adams is being held at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.
Anyone with information about the Jan. 13 robbery at the mall is asked to contact Suffolk Police Fourth Squad detectives at 631.854.8452.
Top: GLI file photo
