Three juveniles, ages 14, 14 and 11, attempted to rob a man at gunpoint Tuesday evening as he was taking out his trash, Dayton police said.

The boys approached the man in the 1200 block of Carlisle Avenue just after 6 p.m. and displayed what appeared to be a pistol. The victim was able to scare the suspects off and followed them as he called police.

A responding officer witnessed the 11-year-old running with a gun, according to Dayton Police Lt. Wendy Stiver. Police were able to catch all three suspects, but had not recovered a weapon as of 7:30 p.m.

“We are operating under the assumption that it was a firearm,” Stiver said. “It could be a toy or a replica. We’re not sure yet. We are still looking.”

“If it was in fact a real firearm that is extremely disturbing that an 11-year-old would be in possession of a gun,” she said.