14-year-old arrested – A 14-year-old boy was arrested in South Boston in connection with the armed robbery of a children’s lemonade stand earlier this week. Police are still searching for a second suspect and say the case involves charges including armed robbery and unlawful possess
The cash box was empty when police later recovered it—but for the brother and sister who were running their lemonade stand, the damage was immediate and personal.
Boston police said a 14-year-old boy was arrested Friday in South Boston in connection with the armed robbery of a children’s lemonade stand earlier in the week. Police did not identify the suspect because he is a minor. He is expected to be arraigned in Boston Juvenile Court on two counts of armed robbery and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
The robbery happened at about 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday on West Ninth Street. where brother and sister—David Byrne. 12. and his sister. 11-year-old Juliette Byrne—were selling lemonade. Police said two young men approached the stand after making several passes through the area. The pair asked whether the stand accepted Apple Pay before grabbing a box of cash. Officers said one suspect flashed a black firearm in his waistband before both fled the scene.
David Byrne described the moment to CBS News Boston, saying, “He walked over here, he said, ‘I might need to take the box,’ and he grabbed it with one hand, and then he showed us the gun.” He added that his sister put her hands up and he told the suspects, “You can have it.”
He also said he was annoyed that children were targeted. “But after that, I was just a little annoyed because we’re 12 and 11, and you shouldn’t really do that.”
Police later recovered the cash box and found it to be empty, and they did not say how much money was taken.
As detectives worked to identify the remaining suspect. Boston police released surveillance images and video of the two men on Thursday. asking the public for help. Police say they are still searching for a second suspect and are requesting anyone with information to contact detectives at (617) 343-4742.
For the Byrne family and neighbors, the episode landed like a violation of something small and harmless. Jenn and David Byrne, whose children were robbed at their lemonade stand on Wednesday, said they were still in shock.
In comments to CBS News Boston shortly after the incident, David Byrne’s father, Dave Byrne, said he was “pretty disgusted” by the theft, pointing to the timing in the middle of broad daylight. “It was in the middle of broad daylight,” he said.
On Friday evening, the siblings reopened their lemonade stand with support from neighbors, city officials, and residents. Mayor Michelle Wu attended. Juliette Byrne, 11, said, “I never thought this many people would come.” She added, “It really makes me feel happy.”
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn said half of the money raised during the reopening would be donated to a local organization focused on preventing gun violence.
South Boston armed robbery lemonade stand juvenile court Boston police Michelle Wu Ed Flynn gun violence West Ninth Street
Southie being Southie I guess…
They said the cash box was empty later?? So like what did they even rob, just to scare kids with a gun? That’s messed up.
Why is it always an “unlawful possession of a firearm” thing with minors, like they’re just holding it for fun. Also didn’t mention if Apple Pay was working or not lol.
I can’t believe kids were out there selling lemonade and some teen just comes up flashing a gun in his waistband. Even if the box ended up empty, the damage is still there. Arrested one kid but they’re still searching for the second guy… so was it like a dare or something? This feels like the kind of situation where nobody learns anything.