Minneapolis police arrested six juveniles — ages 11 to 14 — following three armed robberies and two crashes on Interstate 94 on Tuesday. The young suspects, three boys and three girls, were involved in a series of crimes that led to a police pursuit and subsequent crashes.
The first robbery took place at 11:30 a.m. on 41st Avenue South, with a second occurring shortly after on Bloomington Avenue. Police spotted one of the vehicles involved and pursued it, but the driver refused to stop, resulting in a crash on I-94. Shots were reportedly fired during the second robbery, though no one was hit.
These 6 kids 11-14 got arrested in Minneapolis for armed robberies and multiple vehicle crashes, do you think they will be tried as juveniles or adults because of the severity?
— Matt Rose (@jaynus12345) October 10, 2024
A third robbery later occurred on Pleasant Avenue. Police responded by activating a “crime pattern response protocol” due to the similarities between the incidents. Law enforcement agencies, including the Minnesota State Patrol, flooded the area, leading to the arrest of the juveniles after a foot chase from two separate crash sites on I-94.
Three other vehicles were involved in the crashes, though no one was seriously injured.
The young suspects were taken to hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries and will be booked into the Juvenile Detention Center.
Some local Minneapolis news is reporting this case as 6 juveniles arrested for car thefts. That severely minimizes the allegations.
Armed robberies are "crimes against persons" and threaten murder or death, here by threatening with guns. Not "car theft."https://t.co/NUGCtw7uOq https://t.co/hub4Q4Egyj
— Tom Gallagher 4 Liberty (@Gallagher61B) October 9, 2024
Minneapolis police say three robberies within a two hour period Tuesday in south Minneapolis led to the arrest of six juveniles between the ages of 11 and 14. Police Chief Brian O'Hara calls the ages of the suspects "incredibly frustrating."https://t.co/YMt7OPnMxV
— News Talk 830 WCCO (@wccoradio) October 9, 2024
One 12-year-old male suspect had prior encounters with police, while the others had minimal or no previous records. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara expressed frustration over the involvement of such young children in dangerous criminal behavior, saying, “Despite all our efforts, it is incredibly frustrating to see this activity continuing with children so young.”
The investigation into the robberies and possible connections to other crimes is ongoing.
