12-Year Old Boy Armed With Gun Robs Michigan Gas Station

By Matis Glenn

A middle-school boy pointed a gun at a gas station clerk on June 1, in broad day light, demanding that a black bag be filled with cash, according to police reports and footage that has gone viral on social media.  

Surveillance video of a gas station in Hartford, Michigan captured the boy robbing the store. The clerk asked him “are you serious?” to which he responded by firing a warning shot into the ceiling of the store. The clerk filled the bag with money – in the thousands of dollars – and told the youth to “get out.” Police found the young thief in a nearby parking lot and retrieved the money and the gun, according to CBS. There are reports that due to the nature of the crime, the boy might be charged as an adult.

In the wake of mass shootings – including two last month committed by 18 year old men – many are concerned about young people’s access to firearms. New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation this week raising the age to buy semiautomatic rifles, such as AR-15s, from 18 to 21.  

 “It flabbergasted me that a young person, in broad daylight, no mask, would walk right into a business with other customers and announce an armed robbery,” said Lt. Michael Prince of the Hartford Police Department. “It is very concerning. The school shootings that we’re seeing every day, the violence we’re seeing in churches,” Prince added.

The boy reportedly gained access to his father’s gun, which was locked in a safe. “I think the father had good intentions,” Prince said.  “but I think he learned a valuable lesson that he needs to secure the firearm even better than he did because this young man was able to pry the door open.”

The suspect was arrested by police and brought to the Allegan County Juvenile Center. His arraignment is expected to be on June 9, at a juvenile court in Paw Paw, Michigan, Prince told WMMT.

mglenn@hamodia.com