A teenage boy has been arrested after police say two young siblings were robbed at gunpoint while running a lemonade stand in South Boston.
The 14-year-old suspect, whose name was not released because he is a minor, was taken into custody Friday, just two days after the frightening robbery left 12-year-old David Byrne and 11-year-old Juliette Byrne shaken.
The brother and sister had set up a lemonade stand near their home on West Ninth Street, hoping to make a little extra money before summer break. But their innocent neighborhood business turned terrifying when two juvenile suspects allegedly targeted them.
According to Boston Police, the two boys passed by the lemonade stand several times before approaching the siblings around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Police said the suspects asked the kids if they accepted Apple Pay. Before David and Juliette could answer, one of the suspects allegedly showed them a black firearm tucked into his waistband.
The other suspect then grabbed the cash box.
“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,” David told CBS News Boston.
David said his younger sister immediately put her hands up.
“My sister, she put her hands up, and I just said, ‘You can have it,’” he recalled. “But after that, I was just a little annoyed because we’re 12 and 11, and you shouldn’t really do that.”
The suspects ran off with the cash box, which reportedly contained about $50. Authorities later recovered the box, but it was empty.
After the robbery, David and Juliette shut down their stand and told their father what happened. He called 911.
The story quickly spread through the community, and neighbors rallied around the children in a big way. By Friday, the siblings had reopened their lemonade stand, this time with a crowd of supporters lining up to buy drinks and show them they were not alone.
Even Boston Mayor Michelle Wu stopped by to support them.
“I never thought this many people would come. It really makes me feel happy,” Juliette said.
The touching comeback turned a scary moment into a powerful show of community support. According to Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, half of the money raised Friday will be donated to a local organization focused on preventing gun violence.
The arrested 14-year-old is expected to be arraigned in Boston Juvenile Court on two counts of armed robbery and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Police said the second suspect remains on the loose.
Will J’marcus squeal on D’marius?