A 14-year-old boy has been taken into custody in relation to an armed robbery that occurred outside a Publix in Clearwater. This teen, whose identity remains protected due to his age, is the second suspect arrested after the incident that unfolded earlier in the week. As reported by WFLA News, the arrest took place on Friday.
According to authorities, the situation began when two individuals on bicycles approached a security guard outside of the Publix located at 1295 South Missouri Avenue. In a daring daylight move, they managed to grab the security guard's gun directly from his holster. The Clearwater Police Department was alerted to the robbery on Wednesday evening. During the interaction, the guard was reportedly knocked down, sustaining minor injuries, as reported by WTSP 10 Tampa Bay.
The Clearwater Police Department swiftly responded to the incident, culminating in the arrests. A 16-year-old, connected to the same case, was taken into custody on Wednesday night. "Officials arrested the 16-year-old Wednesday night. They are now both charged with armed robbery," as stated by WTSP 10 Tampa Bay in their coverage of the event. Both teens have been charged with armed robbery and were transported to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center.
The security guard, who has not been named, was dispatched to a local hospital for the treatment of his injuries. He has since been released. Further confirming this, FOX 13 News added that "The guard was treated at the hospital for minor injuries." Details continue to unfold as authorities piece together the full narrative of the crime and the motive behind the teens' audacious actions to brazenly disarm a security officer in broad daylight.
