Age 9 Boy Robbed at Gunpoint While Selling Lemonade. Lowe's Gives Him Brand New Lawnmower
At just 9 years old, North Carolina resident Mark David is a natural entrepreneur. He walks dogs, takes care of reptiles, and manages his own neighborhood lemonade stand.
Mark had been stashing his money away to fund another one of his small business endeavors — a landscaping business.
On Aug. 5, Mark was selling lemonade in his neighborhood when he became the victim of a robbery at gunpoint.
A teenager shoved a black handgun into Mark’s stomach and demanded money.
“I opened the box, he grabbed it, pushed the gun at me and ran away,” Mark recalled.
This is 9 year old Mark David… He runs a mowing business and a lemonade stand in Union Co. Yesterday he was robbed at gunpoint point in his neighborhood while selling, today… @Lowes came by with a big surprise. Find out what at 5 on @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/Moe1XrinUm
— Corey Gensler (@CoreyWSOC9) August 6, 2018
Mark’s community, joined by voices across the nation, were left disgusted that anyone would rob a child at gunpoint at a lemonade stand.
“In today’s world, people are very bold,” Union County spokesman Tony Underwood said. “Criminals are very bold. This is a new low.”
The teenager ran off with less than $20 in cash, Underwood said.
While trying to come to terms with the traumatizing event, Mark’s parents have been there to support him.
In processing the frightening event with his parents, Mark decided to continue selling lemonade.
“We are being resilient, and he came out here to sell some lemonade today just to be back at it, and taking out time to process everything that happened,” said Mark’s father, Philip Smith.
“We kinda explained it to him that bad things do happen to good people and you never know when it’s going to happen to you,” Smith continued. “You just gotta pray and be glad that he is safe.”
The community has rallied around Mark, collecting money on behalf of the boy.
When the local Lowe’s home improvement store caught wind of the story, they decided to pitch in and help Mark reach one of his larger goals.
Lowe’s was proud to give Mark his very own brand-new riding lawn mower. Store manager Chris Beatty was impressed with Mark’s initiative and ambition as a businessman.
“It’s pretty cool what you’re trying to do at such a young age, and tell you what, it’s pretty awesome to be a part of it,” Beatty told the boy.
Mark and his family have been overwhelmed by all the love and support, and plan to host a neighborhood gathering to say thank you, complete with cookies and lemonade.
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