Teen Victim Who Reported Armed Robbery Was Allegedly Trying To Buy A Gun When It Happened

Authorities in Florida say the juvenile victim of an armed robbery last month failed to mention to investigators that he was allegedly trying to buy a firearm when the seller robbed him.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday shared “an interesting development in the investigation” of an armed robbery reported in Deltona in late July. Detectives learned the 16-year-old victim who reported the crime was not only violating probation at the time, but was allegedly meeting the suspect to purchase a firearm.

The victim previously told detectives he was robbed at gunpoint by a 15-year-old acquaintance on McClellan Street on July 29. The victim said the driver of the vehicle pointed a gun at his head while the 15-year-old demanded and took the cash.

The 15-year-old was arrested at home the following day and charged with robbery with a firearm. The second person allegedly involved in the robbery, 18-year-old Clayton Hencken, was arrested on Aug. 10 on a charge of robbery with a firearm while masked.

But further investigation revealed the victim was on probation when he left his house after his curfew to meet up with the suspects. According to the sheriff’s office, the victim also allegedly deleted text messages to “conceal he was attempting to purchase a firearm that evening.”

The victim was arrested for violating probation. When his father came to pick him up from the Family Resource Center, he was also arrested “after it was discovered he had an open writ.”