How a TikTok star accused of robbery was caught by the FBI thanks to his shoes in his dancing videos

A popular TikTok personality suspected of committing a spate of armed robberies in Metro Detroit was arrested after authorities were able to pin him to the crimes by way of his conspicuous shoes.

Prior to his eventual arrest, the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Chozen Terrell-Hannah, shared TikTok videos of him dancing in white Nike tennis shoes with red accents, The Detroit News reported. He allegedly wore those same shoes to commit the robberies.

The 22-year-old reportedly goes by the name “ChozenWrld” on TikTok, and he has over 148,000 followers. His posts have also amassed over 1.6 million likes. His February 23 arrest at his residence came after authorities received a tip. He also admitted to robbing four stores upon his arrest.

Terrell-Hannah allegedly robbed the stores in the space of three months. The first incident happened at a 7-Eleven store on December 1. He is said to have worn black pants, a black hooded sweatshirt, a black ski mask, and white shoes. He also had a black backpack with a floral pattern. Terrell-Hannah allegedly confronted the clerk at gunpoint and made away with money.

On January 13, a suspect similarly matching that dress and backpack description allegedly robbed a Marathon gas station. Besides demanding money from the clerk at gunpoint, the suspect also stole 18 packs of cigars. The suspect, however, left behind a .40-caliber bullet around the counter.

Authorities on January 26 then received another report of a robbery at the same 7-Eleven. The suspect also wore similar clothes and carried a black backpack with a floral pattern. The suspect also fled the scene with stolen money, The Detroit News reported.

“The clerk initially refused but complied after the subject pulled back the slide of the gun in a motion of chambering a round and ejected a round onto the counter,” an FBI task force officer stated in the complaint. “This round, which was recovered later, was .40 caliber.”

A suspect wearing similar clothing allegedly robbed an Old West Tobacco store on February 1. In the aftermath of that robbery, investigators realized the suspect had pink or red hair protruding from the Black ski mask he was wearing.

“After the money was placed into the bag, the subject took several boxes of cigars and then fled the store,” the FBI task force officer stated.

Terrell-Hannah was ultimately identified as a person of interest after a tipster notified authorities about a TikTok account linked to him. And though some eyewitnesses initially described the suspected robber as a White man, the FBI task force officer stated his features largely matched eyewitness accounts.

“Based on my training and experience, I believe due to (Terrell-Hannah’s) light complexion, the victims of armed robberies, observing him under the circumstances and wearing the clothing described above, could describe him as either white or black,” the FBI task force officer wrote.

The shoes Terrell-Hannah also wore in the TikTok videos also gave him out. “These shoes are similar in appearance to the shoes worn in the above referenced armed robberies,” the FBI task force officer said, adding that a subsequent search of his home “led to the seizure of items believed to be used in the armed robberies including a black Glock handgun, a black backpack with a floral pattern, a skeleton full body suit, and white Nike tennis shoes.”

“(He) admitted to committing all four of the above-described armed robberies and acknowledged using the black backpack with a floral pattern in all four of the armed robberies,” the officer added. “(Terrell-Hannah) explained that skeleton gloves observed during the armed robberies were actually part of a full body skeleton suit.”

Terrell-Hannah has since been charged with robbery affecting interstate commerce and possessing a firearm during a violent crime. He could be sentenced to more than 20 years in prison if found guilty of the charges.