9-Year-Olds’ Lemonade Stand Robbed

LUTZ, FL — An afternoon of selling lemonade from a makeshift stand took a violent turn for two Lutz children Wednesday. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the kids were robbed by a pair of dissatisfied customers.

The incident that ultimately led to two arrests began to unfold in an apartment complex in the 15400 block of Livingston Avenue on Dec. 28. Deputies say Lucas White and Zytavia Goodwin transformed a cardboard box into a stand and began offering cups of lemonade for sale.

Around 5 p.m., deputies say the two children, who are both 9, were approached by two male customers. The customers each ordered a lemonade, but one wasn’t happy with the amount poured into his cup, an email from the sheriff's office said.

The perceived lack of lemonade led to a dispute between the two kids and two customers, the email noted.

“This angered victim, Lucas White, so he threw a cup of lemonade” on one of the customers, a 16-year-old boy. The teen is accused of pushing the little boy to the ground and snatching Zytavia Goodwin’s iPod. Deputies say the second “customer,” Deante Small, 19, grabbed a cup from Goodwin’s hand that contained $13.53.

Small and the teenage boy, who is not being identified due to his age, then took off.

Deputies later arrested Small and the 16-year-old.

“The money and the iPod have not been recovered,” the email said. “According to the suspects, the money was spent at Walmart.”

Small faces a felony charge of robbery by sudden snatching. The 16-year-old was charged with misdemeanor battery and petty theft. No injuries were reported.

Photo of the lemonade stand courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office