7-Eleven robbery suspect nabbed

LYNN – Police quickly arrested a North Shore man Tuesday within minutes after he allegedly robbed 7-Eleven in Wyoma Square.James Young, 37, of 29 Atlantic Road, Gloucester, was arrested and charged with armed robbery while masked and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.A Lynn District Court document said Young has served “extensive committed time” in prison for past offenses. Judge Stacey Fortes-White ordered Young held on $75,000 cash bail at his arraignment.Police responded to the Lynnfield Street convenience store about 4 a.m. after the suspect fled on foot toward Boston Street with about $100, according to police.A witness in the parking lot, who was scratching lottery tickets, reported seeing a white Acura Integra drive past the store multiple times very slowly within a few minutes of the robbery and thought the robber might have been the passenger.According to police, the 41-year-old store clerk was sweeping near the entrance when the suspect walked in. The employee went behind the counter before the suspect asked to purchase cigarettes.Suddenly, the suspect allegedly grabbed the victim by his shirt collar, pulled him over the counter and held a knife to his throat.”Open the register right now or I’ll kill you!” the suspect allegedly said.The clerk told police he gave Young approximately $100 before Young ordered him to the ground. Young allegedly told the victim to count to 30 before getting up.However, as soon as the suspect left the store the clerk ran to the front door and asked the witness in the parking lot if he saw the direction the suspect fled.Several police units, including Officer John Manning Jr., swarmed the area looking for the suspect. Manning stopped at the corner of Boston Street and Broadway when he noticed Young, who closely fit the description of the suspect, walking down the street.Police said Young was wearing white sneakers and white shoes, which the suspect had been wearing.The victim later positively identified Young as the suspect, police said. Among other identifiers, police said the victim noticed the suspect had dried blood on his hands during the robbery, which were found on Young’s hands. Young provided no explanation of how the blood got there, police said.Police reported finding $100 cash hidden in Young’s shoes while he was being booked at the police station.Young is due back in court Dec. 18 for a probable cause hearing.The convenience store has been the site of several late-night armed robberies this year, including Aug. 15 when the store was robbed at gunpoint around 4 a.m.