Zebulon teen charged with holding others hostage, police say
ZEBULON, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Zebulon teen is facing multiple kidnapping and assault charges after police responded to a reported hostage situation overnight, authorities said Monday.
Officers were called to the 1100 block of Channel Drop Loop after receiving a report of an armed person holding people against their will, according to the Zebulon Police Department.
Police arrested 18-year-old Diego Alberto Rijo.
No injuries were reported, and authorities said there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Rijo is charged with:
- Two counts of first-degree kidnapping
- One count of second-degree kidnapping
- One count of assault with a deadly weapon
- One count of assault by pointing a gun
- One count of disorderly conduct
- Two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile
- One count of going armed to the terror of the people
Rijo faces up to 230 months in prison if convicted of first-degree kidnapping and up to 88 months if convicted of second-degree kidnapping. He requested a court-appointed attorney.
Court documents allege Rijo kidnapped two people by "unlawfully removing the victims from one place to another" for the purpose of holding the victim hostage, terrorizing them.
Rijo is also accused of kidnapping a third person by "unlawfully confining the victim" for the purpose of holding that person as a hostage.
Authorities say Rijo assaulted one victim with a deadly weapon, by pointing it at the victim and telling him to "back up" while charging at him.
All three victims are at least 16 years old, though investigators are still working to determine what, if any, relationship they had with Rijo.
A spokesperson for the Town of Zebulon said prior to Thursday, police had no encounters with Rijo, nor have they previously responded at the residence of the call.
Rijo is being held without bond.
He is due back in court on Monday, September 14 at 9 a.m.
