Two Facing Charges for Gunpoint Robbery in Ferguson Township

Two teens are facing felony charges for allegedly robbing a man at gunpoint outside a Ferguson Township apartment complex in December.

Ezekiel M.S. Williams, 18, of Altoona, was among the individuals who brandished firearms and stole a man’s $1200 diamond necklace after leaving a party at an apartment at The Yards around 2 a.m. on Dec. 6, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

He was charged on Friday with felony counts of robbery, conspiracy and carrying a firearm without a license, along with misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats, receiving stolen property and simple assault.

Williams was was arraigned on Friday morning and denied bail by District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker, who noted that Williams was out on bail for charges including attempted homicide in Blair County and wrote that he poses a “severe public safety risk.”

Ferguson Township police also issued an arrest warrant this week for a 19-year-old Centre Hall man on similar charges. He had not been arraigned as of Friday afternoon.

According to an affidavit filed by Ferguson Township police, a man told police he asked people attending a party at his apartment to leave and afterward went outside, where he was confronted by three males wearing surgical masks and pointing guns at him. One of the males, later identified as Williams, pointed a gun at the man’s chest, told him they wanted his necklace and pulled it from his neck when he did not comply, police wrote.

Surveillance video from a nearby residence showed a car arrive at the scene and three people get out of it, police wrote. The car was then seen leaving at a high rate of speed with individuals still trying to get into it as it was in motion.

Police connected the car to Williams through the registration and reviewed social media posts that showed him posing in front of it, according to the affidavit. Williams was also tagged in photos depicting him at The Yards, police wrote.

A 16-year-old arrested in Altoona on unrelated charges days later was found to have a piece of the stolen necklace in his pocket, according to the affidavit. He allegedly said he obtained it from another juvenile, now 16, who told him he acquired it because he was present for the robbery.

A detective obtained a search warrant for the other juvenile’s phone and discovered multiple photos of individuals, including Williams, posing with the necklace, police wrote. It was not clear if a juvenile allegation had been filed in the case.

Williams’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 4.