Teenager arrested outside Auburn Mall

14-year-old charged with threats on WRTA bus

AUBURN — A 14-year-old faces multiple charges after police said he threatened to shoot what turned out to be a pellet gun at passengers of a WRTA bus arriving at the Auburn Mall on Tuesday.

Around 6 p.m., Auburn police received reports that two people had threatened three other passengers on the bus with a gun before the three exited the bus toward the mall.

Although all available officers were tied up with other calls, they abandoned those to respond to the mall, the Auburn police said on Facebook.

Responding officers located a person matching the description of one of the suspects from the bus outside the mall entrance, and attempted to stop him as he ran toward the parking garage, asking him to raise his hands, the police post said.

The suspect, identified as a 14-yearold boy, at first raised only one arm while holding the weapon against his waistband and jacket with the other, police said. He eventually raised both hands and dropped what turned out to be a pellet gun.

He was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace, and ordered held without bail after a court appearance. Police said he had two active warrants related to separate incidents.

Police say they also identified the second person who was allegedly threatening passengers on the bus, but he was not armed. He will be summoned to Worcester Juvenile Court for related offenses.

The Auburn police said the Massachusetts State Police assisted at the scene.

Last year, three teenagers were each charged with nine counts of assault and battery after Auburn Middle School pupils were hit with gel pellets as they headed home.

The students had just been dropped off by a bus when they were hit with gel pellets fired from a passing car.