12-year old New York boy uses realistic pellet gun to rob woman

Four boys surrounded a 19-year old college student and demanded her purse, in Syracuse, New York.  One of the boys, age 12, threatened her with a gun.  When police caught him, with the gun and purse, they found that the gun was a realistic-looking pellet gun.

From an article:

Police say the 19-year-old victim was approached by four juveniles outside LeMoyne College Bookstore and Cam's pizza on Salt Springs Road at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday. 

Police say the juveniles surrounded the woman and demanded her purse. When she refused, police say the 12-year-old suspect pulled out the pellet gun and threatened her. 

The juveniles were apprehended a short time later. Police recovered the purse and pellet gun used in the crime. 

The 12-year-old is being held in a juvenile detention center and is scheduled to appear in Family Court. The other juveniles were turned over to their parents.

Pellet guns aren't harmless toys.