ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. — An 11-year-old was arrested on armed carjacking and robbery charges Tuesday after two incidents involving a fake gun, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to the Meadowbrook neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, where a witness reported a child had pointed a gun at them and demanded their car keys, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.

The victim said they recognized the child from a “prior interaction.” 

The sheriff’s office said the 11-year-old was unsuccessful in the carjacking and fled the scene on foot.

About an hour later, deputies responded to a second armed robbery attempt in the Hills of Santa Fe neighborhood.

Witnesses told deputies the 11-year-old pointed a gun at them, demanding to get in their car. The child was seen running away from the scene by responding deputies.

After interviewing witnesses, deputies learned the suspect was the same as the one in the previous incident an hour before.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputies, K-9 Unit and SWAT Team responded to track the 11-year-old and later found him at a nearby home.

During a search through the home, detectives found a small replica handgun, which was determined to be a novelty lighter.

The 11-year-old is charged with armed carjacking with a firearm and two counts of armed robbery with a firearm.

Due to the suspect’s age, First Coast News is not naming the 11-year-old in this case.