A 10-year-old boy was among three juveniles taken into custody Thursday afternoon following an armed robbery outside a Central Avenue gas station, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The Thanksgiving Day robbery was reported around 3:06 p.m. in the parking lot of the Sunoco gas station at 1502 Central Ave. Deputies rushed to the scene and quickly set up a perimeter while gathering details from the victim.
Deputy Hannah Gay obtained descriptions of the suspects and their direction of travel, immediately issuing a BOLO to responding units, including canine teams, the agency said.
A short time later, Deputy Tiffany Justice and Corporal Kevin Cheillada spotted the suspects and detained them without incident. Deputies also recovered a handgun believed to have been used in the robbery.
The suspects — boys ages 16, 14, and 10 — were transported to the Criminal Investigations Division to be interviewed. Their parents were notified, and charges are expected, the sheriff’s office said. Authorities noted that some details will not be released because the suspects are minors.
Sheriff Gino Brantley praised deputies for their swift response during a holiday when most families were gathered at home.
“I am proud of the quick actions and teamwork shown by our deputies today, especially on Thanksgiving,” Sheriff Brantley said in a statement “Their dedication to serving this community does not take a day off. Because of their fast response we were able to take these suspects into custody safely and recover the firearm used in this incident.”
He added that the involvement of such young juveniles — including a 10-year-old — underscores the community’s responsibility to help keep guns out of children’s hands.
