Police: Teen uses deck of cards, BB gun in Mission Hill sneaker robbery

Boston Police report a sneaker sale arranged online ended on Tremont Street with a ruse involving a bogus payment and, when that didn't work, a shirt lifted to display what appeared to be a gun.

Police say a Mattapan 17-year-old arranged to meet a guy with a pair of sneakers to sell around 1:45 p.m. yesterday at a pizza place across from the Mission Hill playground.

After taking possession of the sneakers, the juvenile male suspect attempted to fool the victim by passing him two one dollar bills wrapped around a deck of playing cards rather than the agreed upon amount. When the victim attempted to stop the suspect from leaving, the suspect pulled up his shirt to reveal what appeared to be the handle of a firearm sticking out from his waistband area. The victim disengaged and the suspect quickly fled on foot. Responding officers soon located the suspect and the victim was able to positively identify him as the person who had robbed him. The suspect was placed in custody without incident. Although the sneakers remain missing at this time, a Boston Police K-9 was able to locate what was revealed to be a Daisy BB gun in a nearby trash can which was recovered as evidence.

The alleged thief, not named because of his age, will be arraigned tomorrow on a charge of being delinquent by way of armed robbery.