12-year-old charged with armed robbery after pointing BB gun at woman's face in North Carolina

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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Police in North Carolina say they are investigating an armed robbery in which a 12-year-old boy pointed a BB gun at a woman's face while he was accompanied by his 6-year-old brother.

The crime took place at 8 a.m. Sunday outside an apartment complex about 10 miles south of downtown Charlotte, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department reported.

During a Monday news conference, police Capt. Jason Helton said a woman returning home from working a night shift was walking in the parking lot when the boys approached her and asked her to borrow her cell phone to call their mother.

When she handed them the phone, Helton said, the boys took off running.

When the victim followed them, the 12-year-old boy pulled out what appeared to be a gun and pointed it at the victim.

"At that point, she quit giving chase and they proceeded to a nearby apartment complex," Helton said.

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'Does that look like a BB gun?'

Detectives located the children's mother who they said was cooperative and allowed officers to search their home, where they located the gun used in the crime.

"The 6-year-old ended up giving us some information and we were able to get that gun, which is pictured here on the screen," Helton said pointing to a picture of the weapon show at the news conference. "It's actually a BB gun but if you look at it really really closely does that look like a BB gun?"

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Captain Jason Helton addresses reporters about an armed robbery involving two brothers, ages 6 and 12, in which one of the children pointed what was later determined to be a BB gun at a woman's face after stealing her cell phone on May 22, 2023.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Captain Jason Helton addresses reporters about an armed robbery involving two brothers, ages 6 and 12, in which one of the children pointed what was later determined to be a BB gun at a woman's face after stealing her cell phone on May 22, 2023.

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Police said the 12-year-old also admitted he stole the victim's phone and pointed the gun at her.

Helton said the 12-year-old suspect posted photos on social media with a gun several days before the armed robbery.

Police charged the boy with armed robbery and damage to property. The 6-year-old was not charged, Helton said.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 12-year-old pointed BB gun at woman's face in Charlotte, NC: Police