May 3, 2010

PHOENIX - "I was mostly scared of the gun."

It's not often you hear those words from a 13-year-old boy.

But Phoenix Police Sergeant Darren Burch says the 8th grader was mugged while walking home near 39th Street and Palm Lane in Phoenix.

"For this suspect to intentionally target out a young juvenile - very concerning," Burch said.

Burch said the mugging took place on Saturday, March 20, at about 9:30 p.m.

"This guy pops out of nowhere and I keep walking, and he comes behind me and he says, ‘Hey homie, turn around,'" the teen said. "I turn around and he pulls out a gun and cocks it to my chest. He asks me what do I have in my pockets and (he told me to) give (him) everything I got."

The startled teen said he complied with the man's request.

"And he told me to turn around and don't look back," the teen said. "I was shaken up."

He then ran to his grandmother's house and called police, still shocked by the whole incident.

"I couldn't believe it was actually happening to me in my neighborhood," he said. "Nothing ever happens in our neighborhood."

"What is the world coming to now?" he asked. "A 13-year-old can't walk down the street to get to his house without getting robbed."