Store Clerk Shoots Teen's Car After Hampton Robbery; 2 Arrested

HAMPTON, NH — Two Seacoast teens were arrested and held without bail Thursday after a robbery at a gas station and later, accusations that one was involved in attempting to break into vehicles.

Around 2 a.m., police were sent to the Speedway on Lafayette Road for a robbery report. An employee at the gas station stated "a group of people" had stolen alcohol from the store.

When officers arrived, they learned a struggle ensued between the store clerk and two suspects in the gas station's parking lot, according to Alex Reno, the deputy chief of police in Hampton.

One of the suspects, later identified as Cameron Ayers, 19, of North Hampton was accused of grabbing alcohol from the store and fleeing. During the scuffle, Ayers "pulled out what the clerk believed to be (was) a handgun," Reno said.

"In response to the perceived threat, the clerk withdrew from the scuffle and produced a firearm that he had on his person," Reno said. "The clerk fired a single round at the vehicle. The subjects exited the vehicle and fled the area on foot."

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Police issued descriptions of the fleeing subjects and Hampton officers along with officers from North Hampton and Seabrook as well as New Hampshire State Police troopers began searching the area.

About 40 minutes later, police received a call about two men attempting to break in to vehicles on Towle Avenue.

"Officers responded to the area and upon arrival, the two subjects ran from the first responding officer," Reno said. "The officer caught up to and took one of the males into custody."

That man was later identified as Ayers. The officers accused him of being in possession of drug paraphernalia, "items that were taken from a vehicle on Towle Avenue, and tools commonly used to perpetrate break-ins," Reno added.

Ayers was arrested on felony robbery, possession of burglary tools, theft from a motor vehicle, loitering and prowling, resisting arrest or detention, and unlawful possession of alcohol charges. He was held without bail.

As police continued to search for more suspects, they received a call from another resident about a man walking in an area near their home. A K-9 unit was brought in and the person was found in a backyard on Academy Avenue.

That man, James Dustin, 19, of Hampton was arrested on two counts of loitering and prowling, unlawful possession of alcohol, criminal trespass, and resisting arrest. Since Dustin, who was out on probation, also had an active warrant on a criminal trespassing allegation from 2020, he was held without bail.

Both Ayers and Dustin are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Rockingham County Superior Court. Reno said the investigation into the incident was on-going and more charges might be issued in the case. There were also no injuries reported.

According to superior court records, Ayers was involved in a robbery incident in December 2019 in Hampton. He was charged with three counts of robbery, two with a weapon, as well as criminal threatening, witness tampering, and simple assault. He took a plea deal on the threat and assault charges in July 2020. The robbery charges were nolle prossed.

Reno thanked North Hampton and Seabrook police as well as troopers for assisting with the case.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Hampton Police Department at 603-929-4444. Anonymous tips can also be made through the Crimeline for the Hamptons at 603-929-1222.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Hampton Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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