Teens arrested in robbery, beating of mentally challenged boy

Henderson police arrested two teenagers Thursday afternoon in connection with the assault and robbery of a mentally challenged boy.

Police said a 14-year-old Henderson boy and a 15-year-old Las Vegas boy were booked into the Clark County juvenile detention facility on robbery charges.

The 14-year-old boy was apprehended at his home, and the older suspect was arrested at Silverado High School.

Around 8 p.m. Sept. 28, a 16-year-old boy who is described as mentally challenged was walking through a shopping center at 2271 N. Green Valley Parkway when he passed two boys standing outside a store.

Police said the boys followed the victim, grabbed him, punched him in the face several times and threatened him before taking his shoes, hat and cellphone.

Witnesses told detectives the boys ran toward a nearby apartment complex. Detectives then gathered information to identify the suspects, and one of the suspects admitted his involvement in the assault and robbery, police said.

Police said both of the suspects were seen on surveillance video in the shopping center just before the robbery. The names and mug shots of the suspects are not being released because they are being charged as juveniles, police said.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710. Follow @CarriGeer on Twitter.