Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
- K9 and Flight Unit

Rey Alejandro Romero (Suspect- Uninjured)
DOB: 07/20/2000
Address: 2593 38^th Avenue North, St Petersburg

Juvenile, 15-year- old male (Victim- Uninjured)
Student- Seminole High School

Juvenile, 15-year- old female (Witness- Uninjured)
Student- Seminole High School

Anthony Coppola (Witness- Uninjured)
DOB: 07/03/1954
Address:13179 86^th Avenue North, Seminole

What:
Pinellas deputies arrest a 17-year-old boy after he tried robbing another juvenile with a handgun and discharged the firearm near a business in Seminole.

When:
The incident occurred at approximately 8:24 a.m. on Friday, November 17, 2017. 

Where:
The incident occurred at a business Rita’s (Italian Ice) located at 13147 86^th Avenue, Seminole.

Why/How:
Pinellas deputies arrest a 17-year-old boy after he tried robbing another juvenile with a handgun and discharged the firearm near a business in Seminole.

Deputies were called to a report of an alarm and shots fired at Rita’s located at 13147 86^th Avenue, Seminole. The owner of the business, 65- year- old Anthony Coppola, reported seeing three juveniles on the west side of his business when he heard what sounded like a gunshot. The three juveniles were then seen fleeing the scene. Deputies say Coppola pressed the panic alarm at the business to alert deputies of the incident.

Due to the close proximity to Seminole High School, Seminole Middle School, and Bauder Elementary School, the schools went into lock-down as a safety precaution.

When deputies arrived, they located and detained 17-year-old Rey Alejandro Romero, and a 15-year-old juvenile female. Deputies later found the 15-year-old male victim.

Through the course of the investigation, deputies determined the incident was related to an attempted armed robbery.

Deputies say 17-year-old Rey Alejandro Romero and the two 15-year old juveniles were congregating at the Rita’s when Romero took out a gun and pointed it at the 15-year-old juvenile male victim. Romero told the male juvenile victim to give him his belongings. The victim refused so Romero pointed the gun at the ground and discharged the firearm in an attempt to scare the victim. All three of the juveniles then fled from the business.  

Deputies believe the incident was drug-related; however, no drugs were found at the scene.

Romero was transported to Pinellas County Juvenile Assessment Center where he was charged with Attempted Armed Robbery, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Obstruction and Minor in Possession of a Firearm.

The investigation continues.