ROME — A 15-year-old has been charged with attempted robbery for an armed hold-up at Bill's Variety in October that led to an exchange of gunfire with the store owner, according to the Rome Police Department.

The investigation remains ongoing into a second suspect, police stated.

Around 8:30 p.m. Oct. 22, police said two armed and masked Black males entered Bill's Variety on West Thomas Street and displayed a long rifle, while demanding cash from an employee. The store's owner, Ian Perfetti, previously said he was in a backroom when he heard the commotion, so he grabbed his personally owned firearm and confronted the alleged thieves.

Perfetti said in October that the thieves fired two shots at him as entered the main room, and he fired one shot in response. The suspects then fled the store without stealing anything. No one was injured, police said.

Following an investigation by Rome Police one suspect was identified as a 15-year-old boy from Rome, and he was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon on one count of felony attempted robbery. The teen's identity was not released due to his young age.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing into the second suspect.

Anyone with information on the armed robbery is asked to call Rome Police at 315-339-7744. Anonymous tips can be sent to the website www.MohawkValleyCrimeStoppers.com or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-866-730-8477.