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Alachua County, FL - An 11-year-old boy in Alachua County is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly attempting two armed carjackings just an hour apart on Tuesday.
According to the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, the first reported incident took place at around 3:06 p.m. in the Meadowbrook neighborhood.
A victim told deputies that a young boy, who they recognized from a previous encounter, approached them, pointed what appeared to be a firearm, and demanded their car keys.
The child fled the scene on foot after the attempt failed.
Roughly an hour later, at 4:07 p.m., deputies responded to a second report of an attempted carjacking in the Hills of Santa Fe neighborhood.
In this case, the suspect also allegedly brandished a gun and demanded the victim’s vehicle.
The boy reportedly ran away as deputies arrived at the scene.
After interviewing the victims, investigators concluded that the same suspect was responsible for both incidents.
Deputies tracked the boy to his home in the Hills of Santa Fe area and took him into custody without incident.
A search of the home revealed what deputies described as a replica handgun, which was later identified as a novelty lighter.
Despite the weapon being fake, the boy is facing serious charges, including one count of armed carjacking with a firearm and two counts of armed robbery with a firearm.
Due to the suspect’s age, his name has not been released.
The investigation remains ongoing.