PINE TWP, Mercer County — A 15-year-old boy tried to carjack a woman early this morning after he escaped from a nearby juvenile detention facility, state police said.

Employees at the George Junior Republic school for delinquent boys caught the suspect about 1 a.m. but not before he ambushed the victim in her car and chased her into a convenience store. She was not hurt.

The boy, who police did not identify, faces attempted robbery and other charges.

Police said the suspect ran away from George Junior Republic shortly after midnight and eventually made his way to the Sheetz store, less than one-quarter mile away from the facility.

The boy got into the back seat of a car in the parking lot while the owner, a 52-year-old woman from Carlton, Mercer County, was in the store.

When the woman returned to her car, she discovered the hiding suspect and got out. But the boy charged after her, police said, while demanding her car keys.

She ran into the store and an employee tried to hold the door closed to keep the pursuing suspect out, according to police.

But the boy got inside and chased the woman behind the food preparation corner where he cornered her, still demanding her keys, police said.

Another store employee started yelling at the boy, who fled. Within the hour, George Junior Republic staff captured the teen.

A telephone call to the facility was not immediately returned.

George Junior Republic is a residential school for juvenile boys sent there by the courts or through private placement.