South Boston Teen Arrested After Robbing Young Siblings’ Lemonade Stand
A teenager from South Boston was taken into custody on Friday following an alarming incident where he allegedly robbed two young siblings at their lemonade stand while brandishing a firearm.
The 14-year-old suspect, whose name is withheld due to his age, was arrested by authorities just two days after the ordeal left the young siblings, David and Juliet Byrne, shaken. The brother and sister were attempting to make some extra cash during their summer break with their lemonade stand.
David, 12, and Juliet, 11, set up their stand at the end of a sidewalk on West 9th Street. The two suspects were seen walking by several times before they finally approached the stand at around 4:45 PM.
The older boy inquired whether they accepted Apple Pay, but before the siblings could respond, one suspect revealed a black gun tucked in his waistband. This detail was confirmed by the Boston Police.
One of the suspects quickly grabbed the cash box. David recounted the moment, “He walked up to me and said, ‘Maybe I should take the box,’ then took it while showing us the gun.” He noted his annoyance afterward, stating, “We’re just 12 and 11, and we shouldn’t be in those situations,” he shared.
The suspects fled with a safe that contained roughly $50, but authorities later found it abandoned, empty. The community’s support for the siblings surged following the incident, leading them to reopen their lemonade stand, which drew an unexpectedly large crowd, including an appearance from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
Juliet expressed her surprise at the turnout, saying, “I didn’t expect so many people to come. I’m really happy.” City Councilman Ed Flynn mentioned that half of the profits from their reopening would be donated to local organizations dedicated to preventing gun violence.
The teenagers who allegedly committed the robbery are likely to face charges in Boston Juvenile Court, including two counts of armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. One suspect remains at large, while the investigation continues.
