LAWRENCE, Mass. (WHDH) -- The suspects behind Friday’s armed robbery at a Lawrence convenience store appeared in court Tuesday.

The three suspects were arraigned in Lawrence District Court Tuesday after they allegedly tried to rob a convenience store on South Union Street.

Police said the three men terrorized the store owner, his wife, and a female clerk.

“She was standing by the front door when three men came rushing into the store, dressed mostly in black and wearing masks. She said that they were armed with some type of guns. She told police that she was pushed down to the floor by one of the males,” said a prosecutor.

During a standoff, the owner and his wife managed to escape. The clerk went to hide in a refrigerator.

“A black .22 caliber machine gun, officers also note that they observed numerous shell casings near the rear door,” the prosecutor said.

The female clerk who was dragged several times has not returned to work.

Prosecutors say the three suspects are gang members. The suspects worked for the city's public works department.

According to officers, the teenagers cleaned up parks through the "Safe and Successful Youth Initiative" grant.

Bail was set at $500,000 for each suspect, but was then revoked for other open cases.