![\"four](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/748fe07a-d4c1-429e-8dd6-bed67c3cdb67.jpg\"\/ "\\"Four")
<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFour Martin County teenagers are facing felony charges after investigators say they robbed a 14-year-old at gunpoint before leading deputies on a chase.According to the Martin County Sheriff\u2019s Office, the robbery happened in Palm City around 1 a.m. Thursday near the Lighthouse Point neighborhood.Major Ruben Romero said the 14-year-old was hanging out with a friend when he received a Snapchat message from someone he recognized about purchasing clothes. His friend drove him to the meeting spot where he got into a white Kia occupied by four people he knew from the area.”He jumped in the backseat and immediately had a gun pointed at his face,” Romero said.Deputies said the suspects began going through the teen’s pockets, taking about $150 and a watch before forcing him out of the vehicle. Investigators later found the watch was a fake Rolex. The victim immediately called 911, and deputies began searching for the vehicle. “We know now that these were armed, dangerous guys. We had no idea who they were. We just know what they were capable of,” Romero said. A sheriff’s office K-9 deputy soon located the vehicle near Monterey Road and U.S. 1, where they began chasing the vehicle with assistance from the agency\u2019s aviation unit.”If they’re willing to rob a 14-year-old, what else are they willing to do?” Romero said. He said the victim was able to give them a clear description of the vehicle and suspects. “It was described as a white-colored Kia occupied by four males wearing black and ski masks and obviously armed,” Romero said.During the chase, deputies said the suspects threw a firearm from the vehicle. Romero said investigators recovered what was later identified as a .22-caliber sub gun.”If it’s the middle of the night and someone points this at you, you’re thinking they’re pointing some high-power assault rifle that they’re just going to be able to wipe out whoever with,” Romero said. Deputies deployed stop sticks near Pratt Whitney Road, bringing the vehicle to a stop. The suspects then took off on foot into a nearby neighborhood and wooded area.”As soon as we stopped the vehicle, a foot chase was on. That is an even bigger mistake here in Martin County because our guys are relentless,” Romero said.Three suspects were found hiding together in the woods after deputies and K-9 teams closed in. The sheriff’s office helicopter used thermal imaging to locate the fourth suspect hiding underneath a vehicle in a residential neighborhood. Investigators said all four suspects were taken into custody. The group includes one 18-year-old, two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old, all of whom are Martin County residents.Romero said bringing a gun escalated what otherwise may have been a robbery into a much more serious crime.”They turned a situation where they could have just taken the kid’s money, but they brought a firearm to it. That escalated the whole situation from just the theft or maybe just the robbery to an armed robbery,” Romero said.The sheriff’s office recovered about $90 of the victim’s stolen cash, but his watch has not been found. Detectives are continuing to search the suspects’ phones and vehicle as the investigation remains active. All four suspects face armed robbery charges. The 18-year-old driver, identified as Kaleb Seidel, is also charged with fleeing and eluding deputies.According to the arrest report, the investigation determined that Seidel acted as the driver of the suspect vehicle and possessed the firearm used during the commission of the robbery.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tMARTIN COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Four Martin County teenagers are facing felony charges after investigators say they robbed a 14-year-old at gunpoint before leading deputies on a chase.<\/p>\n
According to the Martin County Sheriff\u2019s Office, the robbery happened in Palm City around 1 a.m. Thursday near the Lighthouse Point neighborhood.<\/p>\n
Major Ruben Romero said the 14-year-old was hanging out with a friend when he received a Snapchat message from someone he recognized about purchasing clothes. His friend drove him to the meeting spot where he got into a white Kia occupied by four people he knew from the area.<\/p>\n
“He jumped in the backseat and immediately had a gun pointed at his face,” Romero said.<\/p>\n
Deputies said the suspects began going through the teen’s pockets, taking about $150 and a watch before forcing him out of the vehicle. Investigators later found the watch was a fake Rolex. <\/p>\n
The victim immediately called 911, and deputies began searching for the vehicle. <\/p>\n
“We know now that these were armed, dangerous guys. We had no idea who they were. We just know what they were capable of,” Romero said. <\/p>\n
\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\tHearst OwnedCourtesy: Martin County Sheriff’s Office\t<\/p>\n
A sheriff’s office K-9 deputy soon located the vehicle near Monterey Road and U.S. 1, where they began chasing the vehicle with assistance from the agency\u2019s aviation unit.<\/p>\n
“If they’re willing to rob a 14-year-old, what else are they willing to do?” Romero said. <\/p>\n
He said the victim was able to give them a clear description of the vehicle and suspects. <\/p>\n
“It was described as a white-colored Kia occupied by four males wearing black and ski masks and obviously armed,” Romero said.<\/p>\n
During the chase, deputies said the suspects threw a firearm from the vehicle. Romero said investigators recovered what was later identified as a .22-caliber sub gun.<\/p>\n
“If it’s the middle of the night and someone points this at you, you’re thinking they’re pointing some high-power assault rifle that they’re just going to be able to wipe out whoever with,” Romero said. <\/p>\n
\t\t![\"four](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c4edb536-d7d8-43db-bc7c-7fd59867f89e.jpg\"\/ "\\"Four")
<\/p>\n
\n\t\tHearst OwnedCourtesy: Martin County Sheriff’s Office\t<\/p>\n
Deputies deployed stop sticks near Pratt Whitney Road, bringing the vehicle to a stop. The suspects then took off on foot into a nearby neighborhood and wooded area.<\/p>\n
“As soon as we stopped the vehicle, a foot chase was on. That is an even bigger mistake here in Martin County because our guys are relentless,” Romero said.<\/p>\n
Three suspects were found hiding together in the woods after deputies and K-9 teams closed in. The sheriff’s office helicopter used thermal imaging to locate the fourth suspect hiding underneath a vehicle in a residential neighborhood. <\/p>\n
Investigators said all four suspects were taken into custody. The group includes one 18-year-old, two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old, all of whom are Martin County residents.<\/p>\n
Romero said bringing a gun escalated what otherwise may have been a robbery into a much more serious crime.<\/p>\n
“They turned a situation where they could have just taken the kid’s money, but they brought a firearm to it. That escalated the whole situation from just the theft or maybe just the robbery to an armed robbery,” Romero said.<\/p>\n
The sheriff’s office recovered about $90 of the victim’s stolen cash, but his watch has not been found. Detectives are continuing to search the suspects’ phones and vehicle as the investigation remains active. <\/p>\n
All four suspects face armed robbery charges. The 18-year-old driver, identified as Kaleb Seidel, is also charged with fleeing and eluding deputies.<\/p>\n
According to the arrest report, the investigation determined that Seidel acted as the driver of the suspect vehicle and possessed the firearm used during the commission of the robbery.<\/p>\n
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25<\/a><\/p>\n Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n