Training School Escapee Arrested After Attempted Armed Robbery: Police

COVENTRY, RI—An 18-year-old escapee of the Rhode Island Training School is back in custody after he allegedly attempted to rob a Cumberland Farms on Knotty Oak Road Saturday night.

Christian Hunt allegedly demanded cash from the clerk at the convenience store at around 11:11 p.m., brandishing a gun. But he was denied by the clerk and ultimately fled on foot toward Route 117, police said.

Coventry detectives began investigating based on the suspect's description: standing about 5-feet, 5-inches with short black hair, wearing a silver skull mask, a dark hooded sweatshirt with a light lining, a dark blue baseball cap, blue shirt and white sneakers.

The next day, police arrested Hunt at Walmart after they got a tip he was there. That arrest was in connection with the investigation into his escape, police said, but Hunt eventually implicated himself in the Cumberland Farms robbery after he was questioned by police at Coventry Police Headquarters.

Along with admitting details about his escape from the training school, "Our detectives interviewed him about the robbery and he would eventually implicate himself as being involved in the attempted armed robbery of the Cumberland Farms store on Knotty Oak Road the night before," said Col. John S. MacDonald of Coventry police. "Hunt said that he along with another adult male from Coventry developed a plan to rob the store."

That man is identified as David Mastrophine, 18, of Coventry, who was presented today in Kent County District Court along with Hunt.

Mastrophine is being charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and was ordered held on $10,000 surety bail.

Hunt was arraigned on charges of assault with intent to commit specified felonies, felony assault, conspiracy and shoplifting.

He was ordered held at the Rhode Island Training School until a future court date.