In an official announcement from the Strategic Communications Office of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, law enforcement officials have confirmed formal charges against two local men in connection with a frightening armed robbery that unfolded in the Bendals neighborhood last month. Dated Thursday, October 1, 2026 and released from the force’s headquarters in St. John’s, the media release outlines the details of the case and the progress of the investigation.
The alleged incident took place on the morning of Thursday, September 24, at around 10:50 a.m. According to police accounts, a woman who had just returned to her Bendals residence was confronted by two masked perpetrators. The attackers held the victim at gunpoint before stealing her personal property, which included multiple pieces of jewelry, a brown leather Fossil handbag, and Eastern Caribbean dollars worth 1,200. The stolen purse also contained the victim’s debit cards and several forms of personal identification, according to initial reports from the scene. After carrying out the robbery, the two suspects fled the area in a white motor vehicle, heading west from the residential neighborhood.
Following a multi-day probe into the attack, investigators from the Royal Police Force took both suspects into custody. The two accused men are 21-year-old Deshonte Charles, a resident of Ebenezer, and 18-year-old Nathaniel Benjamin from Golden Grove Extension. Both men face two joint charges: one count of robbery, and a second count of utilizing a firearm during the commission of a violent offense. Following processing, the pair were formally arraigned on the charges, and are scheduled to make their first court appearance before a judge in Antigua and Barbuda on Friday, October 2, 2026, where they will formally respond to the allegations against them.
In a closing statement included in the release, police leadership publicly thanked the residents of Antigua and Barbuda for the ongoing support and collaboration they have extended to law enforcement as part of national crime reduction efforts. Police officials encouraged community members to continue sharing actionable information that can help prevent future criminal acts and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable under the law.
Members of the public who hold any additional details related to this Bendals armed robbery, or any other ongoing criminal investigations, are directed to reach out to the Criminal Investigations Department directly at the contact numbers 462-3913 or 462-3914. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the independent Crimestoppers hotline at 800-TIPS (8477).