3 Suspected Gun-Wielding Teens Arrested Following Alleged Walmart Heist

Three teenagers have been apprehended by police following an alleged shoplifting incident at Walmart Friday night.

The two boys and one girl, whose identifications have not been provided due to age, were allegedly spotted inside the Palm Desert store on Monterey Avenue putting merchandise into a purse, according to a news release from Sgt. Dan Devinny.

The three suspects were confronted by Walmart security for shoplifting, but they refused to comply and “began physically resisting,” Devinny continued. 

“One of the male suspects pulled out a black handgun and brandished it. One Walmart security officer was hit over the head and another officer was punched," he reported.

The three suspects then fled the scene in a tan sports utility vehicle, the sergeant continued.

A few minutes later that SUV was spotted in a restaurant parking lot at Dinah Shore and George Montgomery Way in Rancho Mirage.

“Two of the three suspects were located and detained; the third was located hiding in the bathroom of another restaurant nearby. The three were positively identified by witnesses and arrested,” Devinny reported.

“One of the suspects admitted he had a gun but stated it was a BB gun and he threw it out the window after leaving Walmart. An extensive search for the gun was conducted but it was never located,” according to Devinny’s report.

The suspects were identified as a 16-year-old male and a 17-year-old female from Desert Hot Springs, along with a 17-year-old male from Palm Springs, the sergeant reported.

The three were booked into juvenile hall in Indio on suspicion of various crimes ranging from burglary, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and brandishing a firearm, Devinny added.