A 12-YEAR-old boy has been arrested after making a chilling threat at school hours before holding up a gas station with a gun and firing a warning shot.

The cash heist took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Marathon Gas station directly across from the boy’s school in the town of Hartford in Michigan.

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But earlier that day the middle school student spoke to another student about plans to carry out an armed robbery, local news station WWMT reported. 

“He asked another student which gas station had the least security and he allegedly came up with the Marathon,” Hartford Police Lt. Michael Prince told the media outlet.

The chilling comments were not brought to the attention of authorities until after the gas station robbery. 

According to WWMT, the suspect’s classmate “did not take the boy seriously” when he discussed the plans.

The classmate did not alert authorities prior to the heist.

Law enforcement is also saying the gun used in the robbery came from the boy’s grandfather, who is his legal guardian and told officials he didn’t know he had access to the safe.

News reports indicate the gun was locked in a safe, but somehow he was able to gain access. 

The boy left school and went home to change before returning back to the area to stick up the gas station. 

“It appears he was able to get the code and get it,” Prince told the local CBS affiliate.

The teen robber made off with $5,000 in cash, that the clerk put into his backpack.

He managed to get away from the gas station, but was nabbed by police officers just a few blocks away.

He is currently being held at the Allegan County Juvenile Center. 

He has an upcoming court appearance scheduled for June 9. 

The store clerk told News Channel 3 she thought at first it was all a joke.

“I thought he was a kid, not even 10 years old,” Jessica said.

Lisa Riley, who lives in the area, told the outlet she’s familiar with the boy because two years ago he shot at her with a BB gun while she was mowing the lawn.

“He had no emotion. I just don’t think he knows how to show emotion,” Riley said.

The incident comes amid a surge of teenage boys threatening shootings at public spaces.

Just last week a 10-year-old boy was arrested in Florida for threatening a mass shooting just days after the tragedy at Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.