Four Oakland Mills High School students have been arrested and three are charged with attempted murder after police said they choked a cab driver with a karate belt and threatened him with a handgun.

Police said Khalid Khahiem Woods, 19; Johnam Perez-Rivera, 16; Woody Rousseau, 17; and Chellby Ofosusafori, 17, called a Columbia Flyer taxi. When the driver picked them up on Sweet Fern in Columbia they attempted to rob him, according to police.

Police said Perez-Rivera was sitting behind the cab driver when he pulled a karate belt around the driver's neck. Then, police said, Woods pulled out a handgun and threatened to kill the driver.

The cab driver sped the cab up and struck a tree, setting off the airbags, which gave him enough time to escape, said police.

From there the driver, who was not seriously injured, ran to a nearby house and called 911, according to police.

Cell phone records and evidence found in the cab led police to arrest the four high school students. All four were picked up last week, according to police.

Woods was arrested at his home and the other three were arrested at Oakland Mills High without incident, said police.

All four were charged as adults.

Woods, Perez-Rivera and Rousseau were charged with second-degree attempted murder, conspiracy, armed robbery, robbery and assault. They are being held at the Howard County Detention Center on $200,000 bond for Rousseau; $250,000 bond for Perez-Rivera; and $350,000 bond for Woods.

Ofosusafori was charged with conspiracy, armed robbery and robbery. He is being held on a $100,000 bond.