12-year-old charged after armed robbery at Dartmouth store using pellet gun, police say
A 12-year-old boy is facing charges following an armed robbery at a convenience store in Dartmouth, N.S.
Just after 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, police responded to a report of a robbery at the Highfield Variety Store, located at 94 Highfield Park Drive.
Chad Vincent was working behind the counter at the time.
Vincent told CTV News someone entered the store and was acting suspiciously. At first, the person asked if he could wait inside the store and asked whether the other person in the store was a customer or a worker. He left but soon returned.
“And that’s when he pulled out a gun and he pointed to the customer and asked him to leave the store or he was going to shoot him,” Vincent said.
Vincent said as the customer left, he managed to push a panic button to alert police.
Vincent describes how then, the gun was turned toward him.
“He came to the back of the counter where I was. He asked me to fill my bag up with money, which I did. As I was doing that he grabbed another bag and started filling a bag with cigarette tubes, which I’m assuming he thought were cartons of smokes,” Vincent said.
“He had the gun pointed into my skull and he was like, 'If you move, I will shoot,'” he said.
As another customer came to the door, Vincent tried to warn them what was going on but said the doorbell kept ringing.
It was then Vincent said he was shot at but not hit.
“Which then I realized that it was actually a pellet gun and I heard the pellet bounce on the floor towards me,” he said.
Halifax Regional Police arrived at the scene within minutes and made an arrest.
Police have charged the boy with numerous offences including robbery, uttering threats and assault with a weapon, along with multiple weapons charges. Police also confirm with CTV News the weapon was a pellet gun.
The owner of Highfield Variety Store said this is the third robbery his business has experienced in recent weeks.
Another worker, Michelle Donovan, was also robbed at gunpoint last week.
“Last night, there was only one person. The night that I got robbed there was two of them,” she said.
At the store on Friday, regulars offered their support for a business that’s been operating for more than 30 years.
The 12-year-old boy is scheduled to appear in youth court Feb. 2 for an election and plea.
“I hope he gets the help he needs,” Vincent said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.