The Antelope Valley Times

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Pair arrested minutes after attempted armed holdup

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The incident happened at Family Fashion, located at 1026 East Avenue J in Lancaster. (TONY CHEVAL)
The incident happened at Family Fashion, located at 1026 East Avenue J in Lancaster. (TONY CHEVAL)

LANCASTER – Two teens were arrested Sunday morning, just minutes after they tried to rob a Lancaster clothing store at gunpoint, authorities said.

One suspect was detained inside the store by the shopkeeper and his son; and the second suspect was arrested right outside the store by a deputy, who just happened to be patrolling the strip mall and saw the man with a gun, according to Lt. Wainie of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

Christopher Rainey, 18, and his 14-year-old alleged accomplice was arrested. (TONY CHEVAL)
18-year-old Christopher Rainey and his 14-year-old alleged accomplice was arrested. (TONY CHEVAL)

The incident happened around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, when an 18-year-old man with a handgun and his 14-year-old accomplice entered Family Fashion, located in the 1000 Block of East Avenue J, Wainie said.

“They held the store owner at gunpoint and started loading up duffle bags of clothing,” Wainie said.

It was unclear how, but Wainie said the owner and his son managed to detain the 14-year-old boy, while the 18-year-old walked out of the store.

“Deputies happened to be patrolling that strip mall and saw the guy exiting… with the gun in his hand,” Wainie said.

Both suspects were taken into custody. The 18-year-old, identified as Christopher Rainey, was booked at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station on $50,000 bail.

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

47 comments for "Pair arrested minutes after attempted armed holdup"

  4. At age 18, it really does not matter how he was raised. The fact of the matter is, they BOTH knew what they were doing was wrong. It was maybe a way of life growing up for them. We can blame the parents, society, etc, but at the end of the day it is NOT the parents or society who are in jail. It is these two individuals. Yes, I agree parents do play a HUGE role in how their kids behave once they become of age however, like one individual stated, parents can only do so much. I come from a religious background, yet I had a brother who, mostly of my life, was in & out of jail over little petty things. It got the point where I told him look, if you are going to keep going to jail, make the crime worth it at least. I have a relative whose parents have been married over 30 years, also grew up in church. Yet he decides to rob someone at gunpoint (or something to that degree) and got over 4 years in jail. I know people who grew up in the streets with dead-beat parents, or who lived a life of crime, yet they got their act together and they are doing very well for themselves, legally. Parents can only do so much while their kids are IN the house, once outside, it is their peers or society that they are influenced by. All we can do is set the right example at home and pray they follow as they leave the nest.

    • I think people are arguing two separate points. Elizabeth commented below that people are ignorant for looking to the parents. I don’t think it’s ignorant at all. Family, upbringing, poverty, etc… do have an effect on propensity for criminality. The other side of this is that obviously the parents aren’t going jail and these kids are responsible for their own poor choices. I will say that if all kids had stable homes, good role models, and parents that push them to succeed, a lot of these crimes would never happen. If that’s the case, then it’s pretty annoying when the family gets on here telling everyone to shut up when I consider those family members to be partly to blame, though they cannot be said to be culpable.

      • Excuse me av folk, let me clarify: I believe it’s ignorant that people are blaming the parents WHEN THEY DONT KNOW how they raised their kids. Lol thank you guardian angel I completely agree with you. everyone is quick to make judgement when they don’t even know who the parents are. We can only go based off the facts which is an ADULT who robbed a clothing store. If this were a 6yr old, then yea I’d understand if people questioned the whereabouts of the parents but this is a grown man who can think and act for himself.

  5. these idiots got caught breaking the law…IF the parents are to blame..then BLAME them for NOT teaching them how to execute a PLAN…ideally the plan would be EDUCATION…but when the uneducated come up with a plan…its usually disasterous…so now we have two PEOPLE that have gotten caught making a MISTAKE…so for every mistake there is CONSEQUENCE…and even the most INADEQUATE parent can at least teach their child THAT…or even the most UNEDUCATED person can figure THAT out…even before executing an IDIOTIC plan like ARMED ROBBERY…now these young PEOPLE are going to finally be EDUCATED in LAW101..lol…

  6. I keep saying people talk about giving kids jobs, giving them this giving them that. The problem is consistently that they don’t want to earn it. These two chose to try and take something that wasn’t theirs. Nobody in this life gave me anything. I worked for opportunities I have had and I earn what I make.

    • My dad used to impress on me that you should never be too good for a job that they’re willing to pay you for. I think that is an idea that is taught and not all parents teach it. So then we end up with segments of the population that aren’t hungry to work and humble about their approach to a job. I do think a lot of people figure it out at some point, it being that work is humbling and hard.

  7. It seems like about half of these remarks are made by kids/young people, being sarcastic and making excuses for the criminal elements in their peer group. They make remarks under their fake names, blaming the parents. I wonder how their own Mother would feel if she realized it was them?
    I do agree with whoever made the remark about no one wants to work hard for the money. They want it handed to them along with everything else.

  8. give the kids jobs and this wont happen……. its gonna happen not because of not having a job its because how they were raised if they are led by example to steal cheat and lie then as adults they will do it and raise there own children to do they same thing if parents took a more role in there kids life instead of trying be cool and party with them. and parents stop being scared of your kids.

        • They do to an extent. By 18 you’re grown and can tell right from wrong. And who knows, MAYBE their parents influenced them to do this in some way. However, the key word is “maybe.” Unless all you people personally know the parents of this guy, you have no right to blame THEM.

        • My point is that their parents aren’t the ones who comitted the crime, made the news and are headed to jail, these kids are. lol

          • If you don’t think that children are a reflection of parenting, you are crazy. Is it ALL the parents fault? No, obviously not. Are parents responsible for how their children turn out? I think so. Frequently, I credit my mother and father for laying the ground work and establishing an example for me to follow and attempt to surpass so that I can provide more for my children.

        • @dew if you read my previous comment I said “parents influence their kids to an extent” meaning that there comes an age where they think and act for themselves (18 for example -.-). That’s cool that you turned out fine and that your parents raised you well, but not every human being is like you.

    • Nice idea, but there is increasing portion of our society that want their entitlement to what others earn by any means. We are as likely encourage employment as a way of life as we are to have law enforcement backed up by an effective judicial and penal system.

  9. It’s sad to see how ignorant some of these comments above are. This guy is 18! He is an adult! He is aware of HIS own actions. Regardless of how he was raised, by 18 you should know right from wrong. No one is at fault but him. Unless you guys actually know his parents or the people who raised him and HOW they raised they are NOT to blame.

    As I said in a previous reply to Vince’s comment, I’ve seen parents try their best with their kids, but they can only teach them so much. There comes a time when the kid acts on their own. The parents can neither think nor act for their kids.

  11. Ta’ll need to stop looking at these incidents as isolated. Most of their peers are doing the same thing. No fear, no respect and no accountability. Kids like these will harrass, stalk and kill anyone to get what they want. Shoes, cars, money, purses or status. Be afraid and take action. We need stronger laws for these kids committing this type of crime. I use the word “kids” loosely. They are only kids because they are young. 14 is the new 25 for boys and girls.

  14. 18yr old and 14yr old. Idiots.

    Lancaster, let alone the AV, is not to blame. It is the parents fault. They are the ones who set the example. IF they steal and cheat then what do you think the kids will learn? The same thing.

    I am a single father with two kids. With all the crap that happens out in this world I have the job to teach them how to make the right choices, how to teach them to take care of themselves. Let me replace the word job with responsibility. What they say and how they act is a reflection of me. And there is no way in hell I want to be know as a dad who does not give a crap.

    • I’m sorry to disagree but I’ve seen parents raise their kids correctly, with great religious background and set good examples. Unfortunately, some kids will act on their own terms. Unless we know the parents, we can’t put them at fault.

      • The exeption is not the rule. Most kids from good families have bright futures. Parents the enable, neglect, etc… their kids usually end up with good kids too, but the probability of problems is higher. How many young people in prison have parents that were in and out of prison? To argue that cycles don’t repeat based on anecdotal evidence is not a solid proof.

      • I have to disagree again. Parents who you say have raised their kids correctly with religion and good example still must of slipped somewhere along the line. I was a single mother of a girl for 17 yrs. Is she pregnant, on drugs, stealing from people, a drop out? No because I raised her to be a good person and to do the right in life and I did that by setting a good example. I didn’t shove religion down her throat, I didn’t keep her from experiencing things in life rather I let her do things slowly but surely, I didn’t have different men coming in and out of our lives. I made her a priority, not my sex life. I was her mother NOT her best friend. I wasn’t afraid to discipline her for doing wrong for fear of being turned into DCFS. I didn’t beat her either, I used my words and that was enough. Its a balance of all those things that make a good parent and an even better kid. It DOES start in the home and it doesn’t matter if its a broken home, right is right and wrong is wrong. Being 18 just means the parent is usually no longer legally responsible but if you don’t teach the child right then you are just as guilty.

        • Well said. On the religion point, I think if parents go too crazy with the religion and start using religion to attack and tear down their kid, then that can be disastrous for the kid. There’s nothing more annoying than a new Christian. They never shut up about it.

        • That’s great that whatever methods you used as parenting worked for your child. However, there is no guideline to being the perfect parent. What you did May not work for other kids. Everyone is different. I never said that the parents did not influence them, I said they do; but to an extent. Maybe the parent/s of this guy taught him right from wrong and maybe even used your techniques. The thing I’m trying to get at is YOU DONT KNOW. People also have to keep in mind parents aren’t the only people in someone’s life. They could’ve learned this or been influenced from anyone.

  15. That part of lancaster is so bad. Its disgusting how people around their act. People need to learn how to work for their stuff. These kids arent getting raised the right way.

  16. Y’all All can shut the [removed] the ones who are talking negative you don’t no these kids our what they been through these are my family you don’t know the half of it so stfu and stop acting like y’all do because in reality you don’t . And if y’all want to help kids so much why not offer jobs like letting them clean your lawn or something for money ? Because y’all don’t care so [removed]

    • Offering jobs to teenagers is a great idea. But sometimes the problem is most teenagers will not do or do not want the work. I once offered a local kid a fair amount of cash to rake and clean my back yard (it’s a BIG yard) and was told it was too much work. Not that it wasn’t enough money, but TOO MUCH WORK. Kids have not learned that earning what you get makes the reward much sweeter.

    • I wouldn’t let either of these kids near my lawn, house, or family. It’s sad to me that these workers at the store were victimized by these thoughtless, dangerous, and violent criminals.

  17. Great job Deputy! Give them each 20 years in jail, 1 meal a day, clothing cleaned only once a month, no tv, no free medical, no heating, no cooling, no video games, no internet, no free dental, no exercise equipment. Hotel California no more! Else give them a choice of volunteering their bodies for medical research.

    • U must be an [removed] man with a comment like that, these young black men need some direction..not to be enslaved smh….no.question it was stupid but a childish mistake by children at the end of the day….idk what you talking about

      • How does a prison, which iswhere the 18 year old is headed, enslave? Do you realize how much money is being spent to keep dangerous and violent individuals away from the stable, working, family oriented bulk of our society? Or is slavery having to work a low paying job?

  18. Ultimately it is the parents fault, raise the kid right and he will follow that path, If the parents don’t give a damn and see the child as labor not a labor of love then there will be problems. This should not be blamed on the AV, this is the fault of the parents first child second. end of debate on my behalf

  19. This is what happens in an oppressive “bedroom” community, like the AV, that has little resources to offer the youth; No jobs, a gross lack of alternative education opportunities, and public transit is a joke.

  20. What’s crazy is these kids will be right back out doing it again in a few weeks or month since the jailsystem is too packed and they know it. [removed] they didn’t even wear a mask because they know and don’t care.