Police say a social media-arranged gun sale was allegedly part of a robbery plan that ended in the 17-year-old girl’s death.
RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — Three juveniles have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old girl during an alleged robbery in Riviera Beach, police said. The girl was shot Aug. 21 in the 1400 block of West 36th Street.
The arrests came about a month after the killing and followed an investigation that used surveillance and license plate-reading technology to trace a vehicle linked to the case, according to Riviera Beach police. Investigators allege the three teenagers arranged to meet the girl over social media after she offered to sell a firearm. Police say the teenagers instead planned to rob her, and the encounter ended in gunfire.
Police said one of the accused teenagers is 17 and the other two are 16. Authorities have not publicly identified the three juveniles or the girl who was killed. Police have said the suspects and the victim were from the same general area and may have known one another in passing, but investigators do not believe they were close friends.
Investigators said the meeting was arranged through social media around the proposed sale of a firearm. Police allege that the three juveniles conspired to rob the girl rather than complete the transaction. Authorities have not publicly released the communications between the teenagers or detailed all of the evidence they say establishes each suspect’s role in the alleged plan.
The juvenile accused of firing the fatal shot faces charges of first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm, principal in the first degree and tampering with a witness, victim or informant, police said. The other two juveniles each face first-degree murder, principal in the first degree and attempted armed robbery charges. The charges are allegations and have not been resolved in court.
Police said technology played a significant role in identifying the suspects. Investigators used Flock cameras and license plate readers to track a vehicle seen leaving the area after the shooting. Police Chief Michael Coleman said investigators were able to follow information associated with the vehicle as detectives worked to determine who was involved.
The U.S. Marshals Service assisted with taking the juveniles into custody. Reports citing police said the arrests were made Sept. 21, with two juveniles arrested in Riviera Beach and another located in Jacksonville. Police have not publicly detailed all of the circumstances surrounding the arrests or disclosed statements the teenagers may have made to investigators.
Coleman addressed the arrests during a Sept. 22 briefing, saying the case had deeply affected the community. In an earlier department statement, he described the shooting as part of a broader concern about youth violence. “These are senseless acts of violence,” Coleman said, adding that the department was committed to stopping them.
Investigators have not publicly identified the firearm the girl was allegedly trying to sell or said whether that weapon was involved in the shooting. Police also have not publicly explained how the teenager obtained the firearm. Those issues remain among the unanswered questions as investigators continue reviewing evidence tied to the encounter.
The case also highlights how investigators used automated camera systems to follow the vehicle after it left the shooting area. Police said Flock cameras and license plate readers provided information that helped detectives develop leads. The department has not released the underlying camera footage or records, and the evidence against the juveniles will be considered through the court process.
The three defendants remain subject to the juvenile justice process while prosecutors determine how the cases will proceed. The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office is expected to make decisions regarding whether the teenagers will be prosecuted as adults. No final court judgment has been announced, and each juvenile is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Riviera Beach police said the investigation remains active. Authorities have indicated that detectives continue to examine evidence and have not ruled out additional arrests or charges if the investigation identifies other people who may have been involved.
Author note: Last updated September 23, 2026.