Twelve-year-old shot and arrested after attempting to rob 17-year-old in California

A twelve year old was shot and arrested in Cutler, California last month after he attempted to rob a seventeen year old outside a local business, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department says.

According to the press release, which has since been removed from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office website, a twelve year old boy approached a seventeen year old male who was inside his own vehicle outside a business on the night of November 26.

The younger man pulled out a gun and attempted to rob the teen, who put his car in reverse and began backing away. As he did so, the boy fired his weapon, attempting to aim it inside the moving vehicle. At that point, the teen in the car reached for his own gun and fired a shot at his assailant, hitting him before driving away to avoid being shot at again.

The wounded twelve year old was transported to an area hospital for treatment, and was released on December 16. Upon his release, he was arrested on a warrant and booked into Tulare County Juvenile Detentions Facility, where is being held without bail. The boy has not been named as he is a minor.

The TCSO is seeking information about the incident from the public. Anyone who knows anything that may help the investigation is asked to contact Detective Nicholas Sandoval or Sergeant Bryan Clower with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at (559) 733-6218, or call and remain anonymous by calling or texting  (559) 725-4194.