Girl, 12, Tries to Rob Store at Gunpoint
It's not every day that a 12-year-old robs a store. Or at least tries to.
But that's just what happened at Country Lake Food Center in Highland, Michigan Friday night, when a young girl pointed a nine millimeter gun at employees and demanded cash.
Apparently the 12-year-old suspect was a regular at the Highland, Michigan convenience store, which is why employees at first thought that she was joking, reports Fox News.
They quickly realized that her dark clothing and the bandana she had placed over her face were not merely for show--she was also holding a loaded gun.
No one was hurt during the incident, as Fox News reports that one employee was able to subdue the girl while the other called 911.
It turns out that she stole the gun from a neighbor.
The girl was in court over the weekend, where she was charged with armed robbery--as a juvenile.
Why is it that, when a 12-year-old robs a store with a stolen gun, she's only charged as a juvenile?
Prosecutors have a lot of discretion as to whether to try juveniles as adults.
Besides age and criminal record, the most important consideration is the seriousness of the crime. Violent crimes, such as rape and murder, are most commonly transferred to adult court if the child is old enough under state law.
Technically, armed robbery is a violent crime, but the fact that no one was injured may have deterred the prosecutor from pursuing adult charges.
Either way, it looks like the girl will be spending some time behind bars.
Related Resources:
- Hearing set for girl, 12, on armed robbery charge (Detroit News)
- Juvenile Crime and Juvenile Justice (FindLaw)
- Teen Robbery Suspect Shot Himself in the Foot (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
- 14 Year Old Girl Charged in Murder Robbery (FindLaw Blotter)