EZ Mart Victim's Family Respond to Arrests
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: September 28, 2012
Days after community members held a vigil for Akiya Edgeston, the EZ Mart clerk killed working Saturday, police arrested two of three suspects believed to be involved in the deadly robbery.
Police say 20-year-old Jacobi Robinson and 19-year-old Davion Howard were arrested and charged with Capitol Murder and Aggravated Burglary, and as they were walked from the department, both had something to say about their arrests.
Handcuffed, charged and heading to jail, Howard claimed he had no clue why he was being arrested.
"They got the wrong the guy," he said.
But his alleged accomplice, Jacobi Robinson admits to committing murder.
"I'm sorry to the family, and I didn't mean to kill that lady," Robinson told KARK as he was escorted to a patrol car.
When asked whether it was worth it, he responded, "No, it really wasn't, cause we didn't get nothing."
Those words were meaningless to the family of his victim, only making their pain worse.
"That apology, that's for the birds, don't mean nothing, nothing at all," said the victim's sister Jenykia Currie.
"Whether they got any money or not taking somebody's life is never worth it, what they did," said her mother, Maria Currie.
Hours after the men were arrested for the September 22nd shooting 29 year old Edgeston, her sister and her sons showed us photos they've packed as they prepare to drive her belongings to Chicago to bury her.
"Young little boys took my sister's life for nothing. Are you serious?" asked Jenykia, holding up her sister's photos.
Anti-violence activists came to show their support.
"This was a lady who wanted to make an honest living and provide for her little boys," said Reverend Benny Johnson.
As the news of the arrests sinks in, the family says they're breathing a sigh of relief but ready to move forward and seek justice.
"Our main focus is on the kids and making sure they continue to enjoy life in their mother's namesake and continue this out until the judge has the final call for them," said Currie.
Police are still looking for one more suspect in this case, 20 year-old Maclin Rogers of Jacksonville. There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to arrests and convictions in this case.
Police say 20-year-old Jacobi Robinson and 19-year-old Davion Howard were arrested and charged with Capitol Murder and Aggravated Burglary, and as they were walked from the department, both had something to say about their arrests.
Handcuffed, charged and heading to jail, Howard claimed he had no clue why he was being arrested.
"They got the wrong the guy," he said.
But his alleged accomplice, Jacobi Robinson admits to committing murder.
"I'm sorry to the family, and I didn't mean to kill that lady," Robinson told KARK as he was escorted to a patrol car.
When asked whether it was worth it, he responded, "No, it really wasn't, cause we didn't get nothing."
Those words were meaningless to the family of his victim, only making their pain worse.
"That apology, that's for the birds, don't mean nothing, nothing at all," said the victim's sister Jenykia Currie.
"Whether they got any money or not taking somebody's life is never worth it, what they did," said her mother, Maria Currie.
Hours after the men were arrested for the September 22nd shooting 29 year old Edgeston, her sister and her sons showed us photos they've packed as they prepare to drive her belongings to Chicago to bury her.
"Young little boys took my sister's life for nothing. Are you serious?" asked Jenykia, holding up her sister's photos.
Anti-violence activists came to show their support.
"This was a lady who wanted to make an honest living and provide for her little boys," said Reverend Benny Johnson.
As the news of the arrests sinks in, the family says they're breathing a sigh of relief but ready to move forward and seek justice.
"Our main focus is on the kids and making sure they continue to enjoy life in their mother's namesake and continue this out until the judge has the final call for them," said Currie.
Police are still looking for one more suspect in this case, 20 year-old Maclin Rogers of Jacksonville. There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to arrests and convictions in this case.
