Two nabbed after botched robbery

A 54-year-old woman was just going about her own business Friday afternoon in a Deltona grocery store parking lot when she was suddenly accosted by a man pointing a gun at her, according to investigators. He demanded her purse, money and car keys, but she instead screamed for help. The suspect jumped back into his vehicle where two other men were waiting and the vehicle then sped away.

The woman quickly called 911 and was able to give a good enough description of the vehicle and its direction of travel that Volusia County Sheriff's deputies soon found it speeding toward Sanford. A pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle rammed into a tree and the three occupants fled on foot.

Volusia units along with help from the Sanford Police Department and Seminole County Sheriff's Office searched the area and found two suspects hiding in a car they had broken in to. A third suspect is still at large. The victim of the attempted robbery was not injured, and no shots were fired.

Jonathan Baker, 21, was identified as the man who had confronted Leon with the gun. The Sanford man was charged with carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and use of a firearm during a felony offense. He was also charged with violation of injunction because he possessed a firearm, which was forbidden in a 2005 injunction for protection. Akeem Holton, 18, from Sanford, was charged with principle to carjacking with a firearm, principle to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and principle to use of a firearm during a felony offense. The SUV used in this crime belongs to Holton's mother.

Both men were transported to the Seminole County Branch Jail (not the Volusia County Branch Jail). The investigation is ongoing as deputies work to identify the third suspect. Anyone with information about the final suspect is asked to call the Sheriffs Office at (386) 73-5999 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, toll-free, at (888) 277-TIPS.