Boy, 14, Arrested for Robbery Attempt, Shooting Child With BB Gun

News from the Palo Alto Police Department:

Police arrested a 14-year-old juvenile last Friday after he shot a 9-year-old acquaintance in the arm with a BB gun and demanded money from him. The younger boy was not seriously injured.

On Friday, October 3, 2014, at about 7:44 p.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a call reporting that one juvenile had shot another with a BB gun in the 3900 block of El Camino Real within the past 45 minutes. Personnel from the Palo Alto Fire Department treated the 9-year-old male victim, who had swelling and redness to one of his forearms from being hit with a BB.

The investigation revealed that the 14-year-old male suspect had approached the victim, with whom he was previously acquainted, and shot him once in the arm with a BB fired from an airsoft rifle. The victim tried to run away, but the suspect chased him, pointed the weapon at him again, and demanded money. The victim didn’t have money, and the suspect eventually left him alone. The victim told a parent, who in turn summoned police.

Police located the suspect nearby, placed him under arrest without incident for felony attempted robbery, and later released him to the custody of a parent in accordance with standard procedures. Officers determined that the airsoft rifle belonged to a third boy, and took possession of it. That boy’s parents voluntarily turned over five additional airsoft pistols to police as well.

As is standard procedure, no additional information on the juvenile suspect will be released. Police do not routinely release photographs of juvenile suspects.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.orgor sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through our free mobile app, downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.