Caught on camera: Child robs Van Buren County store at gunpoint
HARTFORD, Mich. — A 12-year-old boy accused of robbing a gas station clerk at gunpoint was charged with multiple felonies in Van Buren County Family Court Thursday.
The boy fire a warning shot before he robbed the Marathon Gas station on East Main Street in Hartford Wednesday around 3:30 p.m., according to the store's surveillance video.
The Hartford Middle School student faces six charges, including armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharge of a firearm in a building and three counts of felony firearm. The boy could be sentenced as an adult, if convicted, prosecutors said.
Surveillance video inside the gas station shows the boy appearing calm as he pulled out a gun and pointed it at the store clerk.
"Put the money in a bag," the 12-year-old told the woman as he threw his black backpack on the counter.
When the clerk asked if the child he if was serious, the boy fired one a single shot into the ceiling, the video showed.
Watch part of the video below:
The clerk grabbed a bag from the safe and handed the boy $5,000 before he walked out of the store around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The visibly shaken store clerk immediately called 911 and had customers lock the door. The clerk told dispatchers she thought a 10-year-old had robbed the store.
"It was a kid, it was just a little boy," the clerk yelled to the 911 operator.
The Hartford Police Chief took the boy into custody blocks away from the gas station.
The Hartford Middle School student talked about committing an armed robbery at school earlier in the day Wednesday, Hartford Police Lt. Michael Prince said.
"He asked another student which gas station had the least security and he allegedly came up with the Marathon," Prince said.
The classmate did not take the boy seriously and did not tell school officials or police about the boy's plans, according to police.
The boy got the gun used in the robbery from his father's locked gun safe, according to police.
"It appears he was able to get the code and get it," Prince said.
The father told investigators he had no idea his son was able to access his gun safe. Detectives said there was no sign of forced entry into the gun safe.
A Van Buren County Juvenile Court referee ruled the 12-year-old will remain at Allegan County Juvenile Center until his next hearing on June 9.
