Duo Accused Of Robbing, Returning To Smoke Shop In Hicksville: Police

HICKSVILLE, NY — A teen from Syosset and a 20-year-old Hicksville resident face charges connected to a robbery Friday at the Evolve Smoke Shop on Oyster Bay Road, Nassau police said.

At 2:48 p.m. May 24, police were called to a robbery in progress at 612 Oyster Bay Road. According to detectives, responding officers were told by an employee that a man had selected merchandise from the store shelves and proceeded to leave. When the 26-year-old employee approached the man, he was punched numerous times in the head and a struggle ensued.

He told police that during the struggle, a woman entered the store and became involved in the altercation, pushing him and throwing a coffee mug at him, hitting him in the head.

Then the two ran out, he told police.

However, they returned a short while later and officers were able to place them both into custody without further incident, police said.

The employee suffered pain to his head and minor abrasions to his right thumb and ring finger. He was evaluated at the scene and refused further medical treatment, police said.

Cristian Zuluaga, 20, of 36 Lenore Avenue, Hicksville, is charged with two counts of Robbery 2 nd Degree, Assault 2 nd Degree and Petit Larceny, police said.

Margarita Bournias, 18, of 202 Southwood Circle, Syosset, is charged with two counts of Robbery 2 nd Degree, Assault 2 nd Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 5 th Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4 th Degree, police said.

Both were scheduled to be arraigned on May 25 at First District Court in Hempstead.