Police: Oakland Mills Students Had BB Guns in Attack on Cab Driver

In charging documents filed in Howard County District Court, police officers wrote that the four Oakland Mills High School students who allegedly attempted to rob a taxi driver causing him to crash into a tree, used BB guns and had planned out the robbery the day before.

Investigators said they used evidence that included a prepaid phone, a pair of glasses left in the cab, karate equipment, BB gun supplies and Facebook to discover the identities of the four students who were charged with attempted murder and armed robbery.

Police wrote they first brought “Woody" Rousseau, 17, in for questioning. During questioning, Rousseau told police that he, Khalid Khahiem Woods, 19, and Johnam Perez-Rivera, 16, had discussed robbing a cab driver the day before calling the cab, according to the documents.

At the time of the incident, March 1, around 10:45 p.m., the three students were joined by Chellby Ofosusafori, 17, according to the documents.

Ofosusafori told police he did not know about the robbery until the other three started talking about it before the cab was called, according to the documents.

Rousseau said that Woods had used his phone to call the cab, according to the documents. Once it arrived, the cab driver was hesitant to allow them into the cab and asked for $10 up front, which Rousseau told police he provided, police said.

The charging documents state Woods sat in the front seat with a BB gun, that Perez-Rivera sat behind the driver with a karate belt, that Rousseau was located in the middle seat, also with a BB gun, and Ofosusafori was behind the passenger seat. The students told the cab driver they were going to a party at a hotel on Dobbin Road, wrote police.

As the taxi cab pulled away onto Sewell’s Orchard Road, Woods told him to pull over, at which point Perez-Rivera began to choke him with the karate belt, and Woods pulled out his BB gun, police said in charging documents.

Fearing for his life, the cab driver drove into a tree, crashing the vehicle, said police, after which he was able to run to a nearby house and call 911.

Evidence left in the cab included glasses police said they believed to be Rousseau’s, a BB gun in the front seat, a BB gun in the rear seat and a yellow karate belt, wrote police.

Rousseau’s version of events was later confirmed by Perez-Rivera, according to the charging documents. Police also wrote the four students went to the party at the hotel after the incident.

Woods, Perez-Rivera and Rousseau were charged with second-degree attempted murder, conspiracy, armed robbery, robbery and assault. They are being held at the Howard County Detention Center on $250,000 bond for Perez-Rivera; and $350,000 bond for Woods.

Ofosusafori was charged with conspiracy, armed robbery and robbery. He is being held on a $100,000 bond.

A police spokesperson said charges were based on the perceived involvement of each individual. All four were charged as adults.

Rousseau was released on $200,000 bond on March 18, according to Howard County court records.

Related Articles

• Oakland Mills High School Students Arrested for Attempted Murder of Cab Driver
• Oakland Mills High Principal Responds to Students' Arrest

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