Hungry 11-year-old accused of armed robbery

Published 5:26 pm Saturday, January 19, 2008

LAPLACE, La. (AP) An 11-year-old boy was in custody on Saturday, accused of armed robbery after police said he confessed to robbing a pizza delivery woman at gun point because he was hungry.

The boy confessed Thursday to the robbery, which occurred after he called Domino’s pizza and ordered a $35 takeout dinner of pizzas, Buffalo wings and cheesy bread, authorities said. When the driver arrived at his house, the boy took the order from the driver and pulled a handgun when she protested, authorities said. No money was taken.

The boy said he robbed the driver because he was hungry.

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Detectives with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office booked the boy, whose name was not released, with armed robbery after he was questioned in the presence of his mother, said Maj. Mike Tregre, Sheriff’s Office spokesman. The charge is considered a felony.

Tregre said the boy placed the delivery call from a cell phone. An anonymous tip led them to the 11-year-old, Tregre said.

The boy admitted robbing a 22-year-old Domino’s driver as she delivered the order on Jan. 8 around 2:20 p.m., Tregre said.

Tregre said the driver told authorities the boy had been sitting on a vehicle in the driveway and began questioning her about the order as she got out of her car. When she placed the food in her car to confirm what was inside, the boy reached in and took the entire order, along with a $250 heating bag.

When the driver protested, the boy pulled out a handgun and began walking away, according to a Sheriff’s Office report.

Tregre said the boy told authorities that the handgun was real, and investigators are trying to locate the gun and determine where the boy got it. He was being held in the St. James Juvenile Detention Center awaiting a Wednesday hearing.

The mother of the 11-year-old said she thought her son was in school when the robbery took place, Tregre said.