Police said the child allegedly entered the store armed with a fixed-blade knife before attacking an employee during an attempted robbery.
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — A 10-year-old boy is facing multiple criminal charges after authorities said he stabbed a Dollar Tree employee several times during an attempted robbery at a Pennsylvania store Monday evening.
According to the Swatara Township Police Department, officers responded to reports of an armed robbery at a Dollar Tree after receiving an emergency call from the business. When officers arrived, store employees had already restrained the child until police took him into custody. Investigators said the employee who was stabbed suffered multiple knife wounds and required medical treatment. Officials have not released an update on the victim’s condition.
Police said the boy entered the store carrying a fixed-blade knife and demanded money from a female employee. During the confrontation, other workers quickly intervened to protect their co-worker and attempted to stop the child. Investigators said the struggle turned violent when one employee was stabbed multiple times before the child was subdued.
Authorities credited the actions of store employees with preventing the situation from becoming even more dangerous. Officers secured the scene, collected evidence, and interviewed witnesses as detectives began investigating the circumstances leading up to the alleged robbery attempt. Police have not said whether the child acted alone or if anyone else was involved.
Because the suspect is a juvenile, investigators have released only limited information. The child has been charged with robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Court proceedings involving juvenile suspects are generally handled differently from adult criminal cases, and officials have not announced when the next hearing will take place.
The investigation remains active as detectives continue reviewing witness statements and physical evidence gathered from inside the store. Authorities have not released additional details regarding a possible motive or how the child obtained the knife allegedly used in the attack.
The incident has drawn widespread attention because of the unusually young age of the suspect and the seriousness of the allegations. Police said additional information may be released as the investigation moves forward through the juvenile justice system.
Author note: Last updated July 2, 2026.