(PADUCAH, Ky.) — Three 15-year-old males are in custody following an incident on October 1 that began as a reported armed robbery but evolved into a more complex investigation involving stolen firearms and drugs.
Paducah Police Officers were dispatched to the 3400 block of Minnich Avenue at approximately 4:35 p.m. after receiving reports of an armed robbery. According to the initial report, a juvenile male claimed he was walking down the street when a black passenger car pulled up beside him. He told officers that two suspects exited the vehicle, assaulted him, and stole his cell phone while one pointed a handgun at him.
Officers quickly located two juvenile males matching the suspect description in the 2700 block of Harrison Street. During the arrest, police recovered the victim’s cell phone and student identification card from the suspects. A black .40 caliber handgun was also discovered in nearby bushes.
Both juveniles were arrested and taken to the McCracken County Juvenile Detention Facility.
However, as detectives continued their investigation, inconsistencies emerged in the reporting party’s account. Under questioning, the individual admitted he had fabricated the initial story. He confessed that he had stolen a handgun from a family member and arranged to meet the two suspects to trade the stolen firearm for drugs. When the suspects arrived for the exchange, they assaulted him and took both his cell phone and the stolen handgun.
Following this revelation, the reporting party was charged with Theft of a Firearm and also lodged in the McCracken County Juvenile Detention Facility.
The two original suspects face charges of First Degree Robbery and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
All three juveniles remain in custody at the McCracken County Juvenile Detention Facility. The investigation is ongoing.