Three Paducah juveniles arrested following reported armed robbery

Three juveniles are in custody following reports of an armed robbery in Paducah.

Paducah Police said officers responded to Minnich Avenue after  receiving reports of an armed robbery. A juvenile male initially told officers he was walking down the street when a black passenger car stopped beside him. He said two suspects got out of the vehicle, assaulted him, and stole his cell phone. He said during the incident, one of the suspects pointed a handgun at him. 

Officers later located two juvenile males matching the suspect description on Harrison Street. Officers said they recovered the individual’s cell phone and student identification card from the suspects. Officers said they recovered a black .40 caliber handgun from some nearby bushes. 

Both juveniles were taken into custody and lodged in the McCracken County Juvenile Detention Facility.

However, as the investigation continued detectives learned the reporting victim's statements were false. The individual reportedly admitted he had stolen a handgun from a family member and arranged to meet the suspects to trade the firearm for drugs. When the suspects arrived, they allegedly assaulted him and stole both his cell phone and the stolen firearm. 

He was charged with theft of a firearm and lodged in the McCracken County Juvenile Detention Facility.