'He was going to blow my brains out': Two boys pull loaded gun on woman during attempted carjacking

Incident took place in a church car park

Amy Garrett (AP)

Two boys aged seven and 11 have been arrested after allegedly pulling a loaded gun on a woman during an attempted carjacking and robbery in a church car park.

The incident took place near Freedom Foursquare Church in south east Portland, Oregon on Saturday afternoon, with police saying the pair had been armed with a loaded and cocked .22 caliber handgun.

Speaking with the Portland-based television station KATU, the victim Amy Garrett said: “I didn’t think it was real…they were just two really young kids”.

Police were initially called to the scene by another member of the public who reported that a child had seen the 11-year-old boy carrying a loaded handgun.

When they arrived they spotted two boys who police say attempted to run away when officers tried to speak to them.

Upon stopping them, police say one boy refused to take his hands from his pockets, where officers eventually found the loaded gun.

22-year-old Ms Garrett later flagged down police to report the attempted carjacking and identified the two boys as the culprits.

Ms Garrett says she had been sat in a vehicle outside the church waiting for her parents when the incident occurred.

She claims the boys approached her and threatened to shoot her if she did not give them the vehicle.

She says “He was showing me his gun and I asked him if it was real…He said 'you don't ever ask somebody if it's real. That's how you get yourself shot.’”

Ms Garrett said the 7-year-old then told the 11-year-old to “show her your piece.” The 11-year-old then lifted his shirt and showed Ms Garrett the gun.

“He said it was fully-loaded and cocked and ready to go. He told me he was going to blow my brains out if I didn't give him anything.”

When Ms Garrett refused to give the boys her tuck, they demanded she hand over her wallet and phone.

At that point she drove away from the boys, but looked back to see the 11-year-old pull the gun from his pocket. It was then she called the US emergency services number 911.

“My heart was beating a million miles a minute. I'm surprised it didn't completely beat out of my chest. I was very scared,” Garrett said.

Later, while KATU were interviewing Ms Garrett at the scene of the incident, the 11-year-old boy allegedly walked past the group.

He left and did not return when KATU asked to speak with his parents, who are said to live nearby.

Sgt. Pete Simpson said due the boys’ ages, they cannot be taken to the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Home. They were both left with their parents.

The boys would be taken to the juvenile detention center and face Measure 11 crimes if they were 15, Simpson said.

It’s unclear where the 11-year-old boy got the handgun. Robbery detectives continue to investigate the case.

“Eventually, I want them to be able to come to the church and have some faith,” said Garrett.

“I want them to have a brighter future because they're not going anywhere bright right now. They're just going down a really bad path,” she added.