Three Lancaster County residents were charged this week after police said they attempted to rob a juvenile after chasing him with a gun near a school in Manheim borough.
Kyle Keller, 20, of Ephrata, Damian Ruiz, 22, of Columbia and Brayden Bomberger, 22, of Manheim, were all charged Tuesday with criminal conspiracy robbery for the incident that took place on Monday. Keller also faces charges of robbery, firearms not to be carried without a license, unlawful body armor, possession of a weapon on school property, evading arrest and possession of marijuana.
According to an affidavit of probable cause:
Police were dispatched at 4:55 p.m. on March 20 to the area of Hazel and High Streets for the report of suspicious activity. A witness reported to dispatchers they saw individuals wearing “bullet proof vests, masks and goggles” following a juvenile male in the area.
Officers found the individuals wearing the suspected body armor as one of them, later identified as Keller, fled from the scene “holding something in his pants” as he ran through yards and property owned by the Manheim Central School District. As he ran, Keller discarded an unregistered 9 mm “polymer80” style handgun, along with a 17-round and 31-round partially loaded magazine.
Keller was taken into custody while wearing body armor and a ski mask and had a small amount of marijuana on him.
The victim reported to investigators that the two male subjects, later identified as Keller and Ruiz, approached and surrounded him while wearing ski masks and vests and attempted to force him into a nearby auto parts store. The victim said a “heavy-set white female,” later identified as Bomberger, joined Keller and Ruiz and attempted to take his backpack.
Officers took Keller, Ruiz and Bomberger into custody after collecting the discarded firearm evidence.
All three suspects were arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Jodie E. Richardson. They are currently being held in Lancaster County Prison, with Keller receiving $150,000 bail, Ruiz receiving $50,000 bail and Bomberger receiving $20,000 bail.
Staff writer Michael Yoder is an award-winning journalist who has been honored with several Keystone Press Awards for his investigative pieces.
