Police: 2 Mich. kids used toy gun to steal snacks

Police say two Detroit-area youngsters used a toy gun to rob five of their schoolmates of candy and chips.

The five victims were walking home earlier this week from Lincoln Elementary in Warren, north of Detroit, when one of the boys pulled the plastic gun on them, police said.

The suspects, ages 10 and 8, have been identified and police said they were making arrangements to have them brought in to be questioned, according to The Detroit News.

"I can honestly say I cannot ever remember anything like this happening with such young suspects," Warren Detective Lt. Dan Beck told The Macomb Daily in Mount Clemens reported. "At least one of the victims told our officers he believed the gun was real."

Police later determined the gun was a toy because the tip was described as orange. But Beck said the two young suspects could be charged with armed robbery because one of the children thought the gun was real. Beck said the victims ranged in age from 7 to 11.

"The one suspect pulled out the gun and the victims thought the gun may be a toy but they were scared and didn't want to take any chances," Beck said. "The suspect pointed the gun to the head of one of the victims and said 'Where's the money?'"

The bandits took candy and potato chips from the victims' backpacks, police say. No one was hurt.

The two robbers each have been given 10-day suspensions from school, Van Dyke Public Schools Superintendent Joe Pius told The Detroit News.

"It's disheartening and very disappointing," he said. "We work hard with our kids to make sure everyone is safe and that they understand right from wrong. Sometimes kids don't follow through the way you would like."

Pius said he will meet with the boys and their parents to decide if they will be allowed to return to school.

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Information from: The Macomb Daily, http://www.macombdaily.com

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