Two boys under 16 arrested after carjacking at Target; witness recalls terrifying scene

Pair flees the scene, crashes into fire hydrant before trying to escape on foot; replica firearm recovered

Two boys under the age of 16 were arrested after allegedly carjacking a Target customer at gunpoint and crashing the vehicle into a fire hydrant, Yuba City police said.

Officers were dispatched to Target on Butte House Road at around 3 p.m. Sunday for two suspicious people looking into vehicles. Within moments, the

PLEASE RECYCLE NEWSPAPER AFTER READING caller reported that the subjects carjacked an older customer at gunpoint, Lt. Jim Runyen said Monday.

The suspect driver of the vehicle nearly struck Target security personnel as they attempted to stop the theft, Runyen said. They then drove onto Butte House Road, hitting a fire hydrant at the intersection. A concerned citizen followed the suspects as they fled toward a residential area and collided into a yard in the 1300 block of Kelleen Drive.

Both subjects fled on foot and were found in the area by officers. The carjacking victim was not injured, Runyen said, and a replica firearm was found in the area where the juveniles had fled.

Both boys were booked into Yuba-sutter Juvenile Hall on suspicion of carjacking and conspiracy. One of the boys was also booked for assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and hit and run.

Target customer Kristina Hernandez took to Facebook to share her experience witnessing the carjackers, as she said they also approached her.

She wrote that as she opened the trunk of her car to grab out her bags, two boys approached her, one looking into her car. She asked if they were lost, and one replied “no” before they walked away. She went inside and alerted the store’s security