Preteen Philadelphia boy and two teen boys threaten and attempt to rob people with handgun

A boy, believed to be between 10-12 years old, pulled out a gun on a Philadelphia street and threatened some young ladies, and later tried to rob a man.

Two teen boys, between 14-16 years old, were seen taking the gun from the boy and later using the gun to threaten other kids.

The gun was either real or a realistic-looking pellet gun.

The three boys involved in the threats and robbery attempts with a handgun

From an article:

Wearing a backpack, red T-shirt and shorts, a young boy was captured on surveillance video trotting up to a group of girls walking in the Tioga section of Philadelphia around 6:30 p.m. Monday. 

The boy, believed to be between 10 and 12-years-old, pulls the handgun out of his pants and points it at one of the girls. The young woman can be seen putting her hands in the air as she slowly walks across the street. Moments later, an older boy comes up to the child with a backpack and takes the gun away. 

That boy then walks down Ontario Street, drops to one knee and points the gun in the direction of a group of kids walking towards him. He then jumps up and runs towards the group brandishing the weapon. 

"He obviously has some kind of handgun. A toy, maybe, doesn't look like a toy," Philadelphia Police Lt. George McClay said. "The other guy is following the boy closely to make sure he gets that gun back, so I would never presume that it's a toy gun." 

Twenty minutes later, police say the same boys approached a 27-year-old man. Police say one of the boys then reached into his backpack, pulled out the handgun and said “Hey, buddy.” 

The man then ran into a nearby home and called 911 and the youths fled, according to police.
Philadelphia Police say they are searching for three kids involved in the incidents. Their identities are unknown. Police believe the smaller boy is between 10 and 12-years-old and that the two others are between 14 and 16-years-old.

The article did not speculate on how the boy was able to get the gun.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.