Law enforcement officers in Union County, N. C., are searching for the teenager who carried out the armed robbery of a child's lemonade stand over the
Law enforcement officers in Union County, N. C., are searching for the teenager who carried out the armed robbery of a child’s lemonade stand over the weekend.
The 9-year-old was robbed around 3 p.m. on Saturday, in the town of Monroe.
« The suspect allegedly stuck a black handgun to the boy’s stomach, demanded money and fled the scene on foot, » the Union County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Public information officer Tony Underwood tells NPR that the robber got away with $17.
The sheriff’s office described the suspect as a « teenage black male wearing a camo hat and black shirt. »
« While searching the area for the suspect, deputies located a trail in the woods where a camo hat, a black colored BB handgun and the stolen metal tin were recovered, » the sheriff’s office says. « Deputies believe the suspect left a bicycle and walked from there to the lemonade stand before the robbery. »
Local media outlets spoke to the child’s father, Phillip Smith, who said his son ran the lemonade stand to raise money for a riding lawnmower — to use in his other business.
« Never had an incident like this, never thought this would happen, » Smith told local TV station WJZY.
On Sunday, the 9-year-old was selling lemonade again — with his mom and dad this time. « We are being resilient, » Smith told WJZY. « We kinda explained it to him that bad things do happen to good people. »
Officers are continuing to follow leads in the case.
« We have been overwhelmed with calls, messages and requests from citizens all over the country wanting to donate funds and even [lawn]mowers to the child but still no arrests, » Underwood tells NPR.
