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Police: Missouri Teen, 13, Shot Elderly Shop Owners Who Forgave Her For Stealing

By Chelsea Hoffman
Published on: 06:23 PST, Jul 26, 2016

A 13-year-old Missouri teen has reportedly turned herself in for the murders of two elderly shopkeepers, which has resulted in shock among a community who has known the couple for many years. The Dreamin’ Demon reports that the unnamed teenager and a friend had only just been forgiven by the two victims for shoplifting from their store.

The details surrounding this shocking case are attracting a lot of comments on social media. People are wondering whether this teenage girl deserves to be charged and tried as an adult for the crime she has admitted to committing. Meanwhile, others are simply trying to make sense of an incident that seems to make no sense at all. Was this a case of a troubled teen making a horrifying mistake, or is the 13-year-old girl who admitted to killing these two elderly folks a developing criminal who shouldn’t be forgiven?

The incident reportedly took place on Tuesday afternoon of last week. The elderly couple, both in their 70s, were at the store they had opened around 20 years ago. The 13-year-old girl and a friend were in the shop as well. It’s alleged that the two young teenagers attempted to shoplift a few items, but they were caught by the elderly couple who owned the store. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the couple took the items back that the girls had allegedly stolen, and kicked them out of the shop. The couple reportedly warned the two Missouri teens not to come back to their store. Neither of the two shopkeepers reported the incident to police.

The girls did not stay away, however, and returned a second time — even though they had been warned against returning to the store. This prompted the two elderly shopkeepers to call the authorities to let them know there was a disturbance involving the two teens at their place of business. The girls were actually able to flee the store at this time with items they had allegedly stolen.

When police arrived, they were able to detain the teens — one of whom was taken into custody on a warrant. However, the elderly shopkeepers decided not to press charges on the 13-year-old Missouri girl, because they reportedly viewed the offense as a “petty crime” that didn’t warrant the punishment of an arrest. This was an unfortunate decision, according to reports, because the 13-year-old girl decided to come back to the shop a third time.

The unnamed teenager was seen by witnesses entering the beauty supply store in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, on that Tuesday afternoon. Those witnesses told authorities that the Missouri teen exited the store carrying an armload of merchandise just moments later. It was during those few moments that the child is accused of shooting both of the elderly shop owners. Each of the two elderly people were shot in the torso, but they were fortunate enough to survive the potentially-fatal event. They were taken to a nearby hospital and are listed in critical condition.

The Missouri teen was captured on surveillance footage, which was featured in news reports after the shooting that could have ended the lives of two well-known community business owners. It didn’t take longer than 24 hours before the unnamed 13-year-old girl turned herself in to authorities, admitting to the shooting of the two elderly shopkeepers.

While looking for the teen (prior to her turning herself in) it was revealed that the girl had been sent to live with her father for the summer, because her mother had become fed up with her out-of-control behavior. When she turned herself in, she was accompanied by her father and two aunts. At this time, the unnamed Missouri teen is in the custody of juvenile authorities.

[Image via Shutterstock]

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