Just before reaching a bus stop in Elizabeth, a 14-year-old boy was the victim of an armed robbery Tuesday morning.
For many Elizabeth students walking to and from the bus stop it becomes a mindless task, but yesterday that function changed for a 14-year-old boy.
According to the child’s father, shortly before 6:30 Tuesday morning, his son walked to his bus stop - located at the corner of Second Street and Fulton Street - when he was approached from behind by a black male suspect who ordered him to hand over his money while pointing a gun at him on Second Street (between Franklin and Fulton).
The frightened victim told the gunman that he didn’t have any money, so the teen was instructed to hand over his belongings including a jacket, book bag, and his cellphone.
When the suspect saw the phone was in locked mode, the boy was ordered to unlock the phone and leave before he missed his bus.
Once the teen reached the bus stop, he was able to use another student’s phone to contact parents, who called the police.
According to the child’s father, the suspect was only described as a young African American male.
The child’s father hopes the police catch the suspect that left his son frightened and afraid to walk to the bus stop.
“Years ago, I was also robbed at gunpoint after exiting a bank on Broad Street. Despite bank having surveillance footage of the robbery, I felt nothing was done", the boy's father said.
"The bank claimed police never went to the branch to check said surveillance footage, while police claimed bank was uncooperative. I’m a grown man, and that was a frightening experience. For my child to have experienced this, I can’t even imagine how he is feeling" the father concluded.
Police are investigating the incident.