Picayune Police investigators have picked up three suspects believed to be involved in the armed robbery of Fashions 4 U.

The armed robbery occurred Friday at about 2:30 p.m. at the business located off of Memorial Boulevard as three individuals entered the store wearing clown masks. One suspect displayed a small gun to the store owner and expressed they were not joking.

After the owner gave the suspects the cash, they ran out of the store.

Through the department’s investigation the Picayune Police Department charged three individuals Tuesday night with the armed robbery, Preston L. John, 17, of 903 Telly Rd.; Frederick Kennith Watkins, 21, of 195 Arbor Gate Circle; and Lawrence Wilson Jr., 20, of 190 Arbor Gate Circle. All suspects were charged with one count of armed robbery, according to a press release from the police department.

Deputy Chief David Ervin said investigators did not recover the gun, money or masks as the suspects are believed to have disposed of those pieces of evidence. Investigators were still able to link the suspects to the crime through their investigation, Ervin said.

“I have to commend the investigators on a job well done,” Ervin said.

Although there were no injuries as a result of the incident, armed robbery, is a violent crime and if convicted punishable with up to life in prison without parole, the release states.

“Crimes of this type will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law; we will search without end until we bring the offenders to justice. Make no mistake violent crime has no place in our city,” Chief Jim Luke said in the release.