BOSTON, MA — A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the armed robbery of two children operating a lemonade stand in South Boston last week, according to Boston police.
Detectives arrested the juvenile on Friday, June 12, and he has since been arraigned in Boston Juvenile Court on two counts each of delinquent to wit; armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The charges stem from the reported incident that took place on West Ninth Street shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10.
According to police, officers responded to a report of an armed robbery and spoke with two children who said they had been operating a lemonade stand when two suspects approached them.
Police said the suspects made several passes by the stand before asking whether Apple Pay would be accepted as payment. Before the children could respond, the suspects grabbed a cash box containing about $50. One suspect then brandished a firearm in his waistband before both fled the area.
Siblings Juliette and David Byrne had set up the lemonade stand to earn spending money during the summer. Police later recovered the cash box, though the money was missing.
The robbery drew widespread attention across the city and prompted an outpouring of community support. In the days following the incident, the 11- and 12-year-olds kept their lemonade stand open and were met with strong support from neighbors and community members, many of whom stopped by specifically to support the children and their business.
The stand also received visits from local officials, including Mayor Michelle Wu and City Councilor Ed Flynn. The Bryne family announced plans to donate a portion of the stand's proceeds to a local gun violence prevention organization.
The name of the teenager arrested has not been released, and community members with relevant information regarding the second suspect are encouraged to contact detectives at 617- 343-4742. The investigation remains ongoing.
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