- July 12, 2025
Two Palm Coast teenagers were arrested on May 29 by Flagler County Sheriff's Office deputies after they allegedly robbed another teen at gunpoint.
The two teens - both 16 - robbed a third teenager in the parking lot of European Village that afternoon, according to a press release from the FCSO. The victim told detectives that he met with the suspects to hang out and brought his parents' handgun to "look cool" and "fit in."
The three were sitting in a parked car when one suspect held his own gun to the victim's head and demanded the victim hand over his money and his parents' handgun. The victim did and then exited the vehicle and walked home, where he told his mother what happened and she called 911, the press release said.
Within an hour, deputies found and pulled over the suspects' vehicle with the two teenagers inside, the press release said. A search of the car found both handguns and marijuana in the car.
The suspect who pointed the gun at the victim is being charged with robbery with a firearm, grand theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a minor and violation of probation, the press release said. The other suspect, who was driving the car, has been charged with accessory after the fact, grand theft of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor.
Both teens were processed at the county jail and then turned over to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
Sheriff Rick Staly said the two suspects will "face the consequences of their actions and prosecution under State Attorney Larizza’s ‘Young Guns’ initiative." The Operation Young Guns is an initiative launched in 2022 "to address the increase in violent gun crime among juveniles and young adults," according to the State Attorney's Office's website.
"Juveniles and young adults up to the age of 25 who are committing violent gun crimes in the circuit are facing adult charges and our office is asking for harsher sentences," the website states.
