Staff file photo by Skip Lawrence A police officer stands guard over a suspect on Friday, one of four arrested for alleged involvement in a robbery at Kerrigan’s Corner Deli in Point of Rocks.

During bail review hearings Monday, Frederick County District Court Judge Oliver John Cejka Jr. denied bail to the four suspects: Germantown residents Steven Joseph Austin, 20, Michael Antino Parada, 16, and Shahiyd Devonte Thomas, 16, and Gaithersburg resident Kevin Goncalves, 17.

"In the interest of public safety and because of the serious nature of the allegations, I order the defendant held without bond," Cejka told each suspect appearing before him via closed-circuit television.

Although three of the defendants are juveniles, all four are charged as adults because the crimes they are accused of are considered violent and involve handguns.

The two youngest defendants told Cejka they have children themselves. Parada has an 8-month-old son. Thomas has a 1-month-old son.

About 3 p.m. Friday, Austin, Parada and Thomas walked into Kerrigan's Corner Deli on Clay Street, police said. At least one of the three pointed a gun at the owner, who was then hit in the head. The three demanded money.

Assistant State's Attorney Jake Craven identified Goncalves as the driver of a silver passenger car in which the group fled.

As they drove off, a co-owner of the store chased after them and was fired upon, police said.

Cpl. Jason West of the Frederick County Bureau of Investigations confirmed Sunday that at least one shot was fired. Whether more shots were fired "is still under investigation," he said.

Police caught three of the four suspects shortly after the robbery, when a pursuit ended in the Germantown area. The fourth suspect was arrested at his home Friday night with the assistance of the Montgomery County Police Department.

Deputies said they will not release booking photographs of the defendants until they have completed interviews with witnesses central to the robbery investigation.

Austin, Parada and Thomas have been charged with two counts each of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault. As the driver, Goncalves has been charged with two counts each of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault.

All four defendants have been charged with two counts each of armed robbery, robbery and the use of a handgun in a violent crime.

Preliminary hearings are set for Sept. 8.

The three juvenile defendants have no prior adult charges, Craven said.

Austin has a criminal history as an adult, a conviction for conspiracy to commit robbery and pending cases on theft and burglary charges, Craven said.

Austin was the only one of the defendants represented by a lawyer Monday -- his father, Gerald Austin.

"These charges are shocking," Gerald Austin said. His son's mouth fell open as he listened to the proceedings over the closed-circuit hookup.

"This is not something I'd ever expect of this young man."

Gerald Austin said his son is a high school graduate who worked summers at the National Institutes of Health and has taken courses at three colleges.

"He was scheduled to begin school today," he said.