PD: Armed suspect tried to rob students

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - Police say they are searching for an armed man who had approached two teens on their way to school and attempted to rob them.

According to Harold Eley with the Newport News Police Department, the suspect had approached a male student and a female student at approximately 6:40 a.m. and 6:55 a.m., respectively, while they were walking to Woodside High School.

The suspect allegedly approached the students in a wooded portion of school property Eley says students use to approach the school, about a quarter of a mile from the building. The wooded area is close to Winslow Drive and Elsie Drive.

Eley says the suspect approached the two students, showed a handgun then looked through the victims' backpacks. The victims were not harmed and the suspect did not take anything from the students.

10 On Your side learned that many students take the short cut through the woods to get to school despite fences and warning signs to stay out.  

Students told WAVY.com an announcement was made at school after the attempted robberies, warning them again to not walk through the woods. One homeowner said she would like the city to cut down the trees to make it safer. She says students often jump her fence and smoke in the area behind her house. 

The suspect is described as a black man, possibly teenaged, wearing dark clothing and a dark-colored bandana covering his face. He is estimated to be between 5'4" and 5'7" tall with a medium to thick build.

If you have any information about the incidents or the suspect, contact Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.