11-year-old arrested for BB gun assaults in Baltimore

An 11-year-old boy has been arrested in Baltimore for his involvement in two BB gun assaults. One incident involved a 65-year-old gas station attendant who was shot last month. The attendant suffered minor injuries and was treated at a hospital. Just 48 hours later, the same boy allegedly shot a 13-year-old four times in the face with a BB gun. This second victim was also hospitalized due to the injuries he sustained from the incident. Betsy Smith from the National Police Association spoke about the rising trend of young offenders committing violent acts. She expressed concern that despite police efforts to arrest juvenile offenders, proper prosecution is often lacking, leading to repeated offenses. The young suspect is also linked to a robbery at a Royal Farms store in December. During that incident, police found a BB gun and folding knives. The suspects, including the 11-year-old, had prior encounters with law enforcement and were under ankle monitoring. Smith criticized the effectiveness of ankle monitors for violent young offenders. She argued that simply monitoring them at home does not prevent further criminal behavior. Smith emphasized that current views on juvenile crime have shifted, and what once was seen as serious is now often dismissed as minor mischief.