An 8-year-old boy tried to hold up a grocery store Wednesday night, the West Palm Beach Police Department said.

The boy walked into King Foods & Meat Bazaar, pulled a loaded gun from his sweater and pointed it at a cashier, demanding money, investigators said.

"He was wearing like a motorcycle helmet, and he was wearing a sweater over his mouth,” the clerk said. “He was only showing his eyes."

Another employee then snatched the gun from the boy, who tried to escape the worker’s grip, witnesses said.

"When I grabbed my purse, it was so light,” said Eboni Alls, the boy’s mother. “I'm, like, I knew I was missing something. I said, ‘Where my gun?’ The first thing I thought was I hope Jaden don't have my gun."

The boy was evaluated after making comments about wanting to hurt himself, police said.

No charges have been filed, but the incident remains under investigation.

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Corbin Spencer, right, field director of New Georgia Project and volunteer Rodney King, left, help Rueke Uyunwa register to vote. The influential group is shutting down after more than a decade. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2017)

Credit: Hyosub Shin