NILES — Two young local men were arrested Dec. 11 for armed robbery, home invasion and firearms offenses in a Niles neighborhood days earlier, according to the Niles Police Department.

Caleb Alkire, 19, of Niles, is charged with armed robbery, first-degree home invasion, concealing an automatic weapon, a weapons offense and two counts of a firearm felony.

His accomplice, Brandon Jordan, of Edwardsburg, is charged with armed robbery, first-degree home invasion, concealing an automatic weapon and two counts of a firearm felony.

Around 12:25 p.m. Dec. 5, Niles Police Department officers were dispatched to the 10 block of S. Seventh St. in Niles to respond to an armed robbery, said Captain Kevin Kosten.

There, they found the victim, who told police he was robbed of money and marijuana by two males who fled in an unknown direction.

The victim said both suspects carried handguns, and one of the suspects shot once at him. The victim was not hit and was not injured. The bullet that was shot traveled into a neighbor’s house, coming within feet of a resident inside.

Five days later, the Niles Police Dispatcher Center received information about gunshots fired into a house at the 10 block of S. Seventh St. Officers confirmed it was the same residence that was shot several times Dec. 5.

Again, the suspects fled prior to police arrival.

Evidence gathered during both incidents showed more than one type of handgun was used during these instances, Kosten said.

Through evidence evaluation and community tips, Kosten said the Niles Detective Bureau identified Jordan and Alkire as suspects in the Dec. 5 robbery.

Police contacted Jordan at his place of employment in Edwardsburg. A handgun matching the caliber of a bullet casing at the robbery scene was located in Jordan’s vehicle parked in the employee parking lot.

Alkire was contacted by police at his residence at Berrien Woods Apartments in Niles, Kosten said.  A search warrant was conducted at his residence, where a handgun that also matched the caliber and additional evidence of the robbery were located.

Jordan and Alkire were arrested on Dec. 11 and are lodged at the Niles Police Department. They were arraigned at the Niles 5th District Court the following day.

Michigan State Police also assisted over the course of the investigation.