Three teens are accused of robbing another teen at gunpoint outside a movie theater in Palm Coast, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

  • 3 teens accused of robbing a 15-year-old at gunpoint
  • The robbery allegedly happened outside Epic Theatres of Palm Coast
  • Deputies say they are working on programs to combat youth crime

Deputies said they received a call on Jan. 6 from a 15-year-old who said he had been robbed by three teens outside Epic Theatres of Palm Coast.

According to the sheriff’s report, the victim said at least two of the teens grabbed small guns from their waists and pointed them toward his head. They took his cell phone and Fendi-brand belt.

The three suspects were arrested and charged with armed robbery and theft.

One of the suspects told deputies they went to the movie theater to purchase a gun from the victim and that the robbery never happened.

Deputies canvassed the area around the theater and recovered the cell phone from a nearby field. One of the suspects was wearing the belt the victim described. A gun was never recovered from the scene, according to investigators.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said his goal is to be tough on youth crime and prevent something like this from happening.

“If you want to stay on the straight path and be a productive citizen in the future, we’ll help you stay there,” said Staly. “It’s a combination of enforcement and prevention and working with parents and children to do that. Not one single piece will work by itself.”

Staly said programs like Police Athletic League, gang resistance education and others are either in the works or being expanded. The programs will be under the new Youth Services Division.

"If we can identify at-risk families we can set up programs and target those families and assist those families through mentorship,” said Cmdr. Steve Brandt. “The Sheriff's Office can't do this alone, it has to be help from the citizens and the community.”

Brandt said they will be working with the schools, court system, and Juvenile Justice to identify the kids who really need to help so they can get them into these programs.

It could be a week before the State’s Attorney Office determines whether the teens will be charged as adults.