Jun 16, 2026
Running a lemonade stand in the summer is a rite of passage for kids across America — a tradition dating back to the early 20th century that helps instill early lessons about responsibility and hard work.
That’s why the armed robbery of a children’s lemonade stand in South Boston on June 10 left locals in shock, while eventually landing one teen in custody.
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“It’s just horrific and unacceptable that something like this could happen,” Suffolk County district attorney Kevin R. Hayden declared during a neighborhood gathering, the New York Times reports.
City Councillor Ed Flynn added that, “There is little I can think of more disturbing than the innocence of a children’s lemonade stand being violated by an armed robbery.”
As the New York Times reported, a 14-year-old boy has been arrested and faces armed robbery charges for flashing a gun and stealing the cash, while his accomplice is still at large. The robbery, however, hasn’t dampened the spirits of the community as it’s rallied around the two young entrepreneurs who endured the terrifying experience.
Robbing a lemonade stand at gunpoint
According to reports, siblings David and Juliette Byrne — aged 12 and 11 respectively — were working their lemonade stand on a corner near 157 West Ninth Street in South Boston when the two suspects “made several passes,” and then approached to ask if the children accept Apple Pay.
David told CBS News that one suspect “walked over here and said, ‘I might need to take the [cash] box,’ and he grabbed it with one hand, and he showed us the gun which was right here [in his waistband].”
He added that his sister raised her hands and told the thieves they could have the cash box, noting “after that I was a little annoyed because we were 12 and 11 and you shouldn’t really do that.”
The kids then called their parents at work to tell them what happened, with their father, also named David, recalling “It was heartbreaking, it was chilling. I was honestly like, ‘this can’t be real.’”
Boston Police didn’t immediately reply to Moneywise’s request for comment.
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The kids, however, handled the situation perfectly — according to security experts — by cooperating, raising their hands and allowing the thieves to take the money.
Ultimately, the suspects got away with about $80, while neighborhood security cameras caught footage of them fleeing the scene. The unnamed 14-year-old was arrested two days later.
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Selling lemonade and raising awareness about gun violence
The brazen robbery, however, hasn’t deterred David and Juliette Byrne, or their neighborhood, from the lemonade business. The pair reportedly got back to work selling refreshments that same week, in the very spot where they were robbed.
“It’s safe, it’s fun and they literally do this every day, and this is one thing that happened,” Jonathan Raukohl, a Byrne family friend, told CBS News. “So of course it’s awful, right, but we want them to know we’re not going to stop them playing on the street, we’re not going to stop them hanging out with the kids around.”
The younger David also noted that he plans to donate some of the siblings’ proceeds to help boost gun violence awareness — while the wider community hosted a collective lemonade sale in support of the same cause.
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Mike Crisolago is a Sr. Staff Reporter at Moneywise with nearly 20 years of experience working as a journalist, editor, content strategist and podcast host. He specializes in personal finance writing related to the 50-plus demographic and retirement, as well as politics and lifestyle content.
