ST. LOUIS — Two young runaway boys from Indiana attempted to carjack an elderly woman at gunpoint Saturday afternoon in south St. Louis.
The 82-year-old woman told police the two boys had approached her while she was parking in an alley next to her home, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. They initially asked for a ride, but when she refused to give them one, the older boy pulled out a black handgun and demanded her vehicle while pointing it at her.
The woman sped away from the scene in her vehicle, and responding officers located the suspects, later identified as a 16-year-old and a 12-year-old missing out of Indiana, near the intersection of Russell Boulevard and Menard Street. They were taken into custody, and a BB gun was recovered, police said.
The boys were taken to the Juvenile Court, and the investigation remained ongoing, police said.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
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