A 14-year-old boy was taken into custody Friday in South Boston in connection with the armed robbery of a children’s lemonade stand earlier this week, according to Boston police.
The suspect, who police did not identify because he is a minor, is scheduled to be arraigned in Boston Juvenile Court on two charges of armed robbery and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, authorities said.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday on West Ninth Street, where a brother and sister, ages 12 and 11, respectively, were operating a lemonade stand.
Police said two young men approached the stand after making several rounds through the neighborhood. Before taking a box of cash, the pair inquired whether the stand allowed Apple Pay. Police say one suspect displayed a black pistol in his belt before fleeing the scene.
“He walked over here, said, ‘I might need to take the box,’ grabbed it with one hand, and then showed us the gun,” 12-year-old David Byrne told CBS News Boston.
“My sister, she put her hands up, and I just said, ‘You can have it,'” Byrne replied. “But after that, I was just a little annoyed because we’re 12 and 11, and you shouldn’t really do that.”
The suspects fled with the cash box, which was later recovered and discovered to be empty. Police did not specify how much money was seized.
On Thursday, Boston police published surveillance photographs and footage of the suspects, asking the public for help in identifying them. Detectives are requesting anyone with information regarding the second suspect to call them at (617) 343-4742.
The robbery startled the area, according to local sources.
“I’m quite disgusted by it. They are young children,” David’s father, Dave Byrne, told CBS News Boston shortly after the event. “It was in the middle of broad daylight.”
The Byrne siblings reopened their lemonade stand on Friday evening, thanks to the backing of neighbors, city officials, and people. Mayor Michelle Wu was among those in attendance.
“I never thought this many people would come,” 11-year-old Juliette Byrne remarked. “It really makes me feel happy.”
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn announced that half of the funds earned during the reopening would be donated to a local nonprofit dedicated to combating gun violence.
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