16-Year-Old Boy Accused Of Robbing FL Taxi Driver At Gunpoint

BRADENTON, FL — A 16-year-old boy faces multiple charges after robbing a taxi driver at gunpoint Thursday afternoon, according to a Bradenton Police Department news release.

The teen was arrested later that evening and charged with armed robbery with a firearm, juvenile in possession of a firearm (subsequent offense), violation of probation and violation of a risk protection order.

Though police have published the teen’s name, it’s Patch policy not to name a juvenile unless they’ve been charged as an adult. It’s unknown whether he was charged as an adult or juvenile.

He’s currently being held at the Juvenile Detention Center.

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A Taxi Caribe driver called 911 just before 2 p.m. to report being robbed at gunpoint in the 500 block of Martin Luther King Ave. W.

The victim said he received a WhatsApp notification for a ride from "Bob" with a pickup location in Palmetto, police said. "Bob" asked to be dropped off in the 500 block of Martin Luther King Ave W.

The taxi driver told detectives that he gave "Bob" rides to and from those locations several times in the past three months.

“Bob” paid for the ride in cash and asked the driver for change. When the victim opened a compartment where he kept cash, the teen pointed a gun at him, demanded the money and ran from the car, police said.

Detectives researched the Palmetto address and found a previous case involving the teen, who matched the driver’s description of “Bob.”

The victim also identified the suspect in a photo lineup, police said.

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