Heights High School football player Ayden Bazy has been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in connection with the attempted robbery of an armored truck Tuesday afternoon in Houston, Harris County court records show.
A criminal complaint alleges Bazy, 17, participated in an attempted theft from the armored truck guard and intentionally or knowingly threatened the guard or placed him in fear of imminent bodily injury or death. The complaint alleges Bazy used or exhibited a firearm during the offense.Bazy was denied bail Thursday, according to a court order filed in the case.
Police identified Bazy as one of two teenage suspects who were shot by the armored truck guard during the incident. Bazy and an unidentified 16-year-old were hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to a report from KPRC.
The incident occurred outside an ACE Cash Express in the 5500 block of Bellaire Boulevard. Houston Police Department Lt. Larry Crowson said the two teenagers approached the armored truck guard and used bear spray before the guard opened fire. The two fled and were later dropped off at an urgent care clinic before being taken to Texas Children’s Hospital. Police said no money was taken.
Investigators used license plate information to track a white Mercedes believed to have been used as a getaway vehicle to a car wash in north Houston. Crowson said officers found people attempting to clean blood from inside the vehicle and took several individuals into custody.
Danaya Pope, 20, identified as the driver of the car, was arrested Tuesday and is charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, Harris County court records show.
Bazy had previously been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon following a March 31 incident in the Heights, according to Harris County court records obtained by the Chronicle. A probable cause complaint alleged Bazy was among three people who confronted two juveniles walking to school and patted them down while displaying firearms. Nothing was taken from the juveniles, according to the complaint.
Harris County Constable Precinct One investigators reviewed surveillance footage of the encounter and went to Heights High School, where school administrators and HISD police assisted with identifying the suspects, according to court records. One of the alleged victims later told investigators that Bazy possessed a handgun during the encounter.
Prosecutors dismissed the charge against Bazy on June 10, stating in court records that they could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt at the time. The dismissal was subject to refiling.
Bazy was expected to be a key contributor for Heights during his senior season this fall. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive tackle was a first-team all-district selection as a junior and received multiple Division I college offers. Five days after the previous charge was dismissed, Bazy announced his commitment to Missouri State University on social media.