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HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The father of a 12-year-old Michigan girl arrested for an attempted armed robbery says his daughter was trying to get money to make house payments.

The father, who isn’t being identified in order to protect the girl’s identity, says he and his wife are going through a terrible divorce.

“Her mother told her that I was taking away the house that they live in, which is absolutely false and she was trying to get money to pay for the house is what I heard. It’s terrible,” the father said.

In a 911 call a woman can be heard telling a dispatcher Friday night that another employee is holding down a crying masked girl who just tried to rob the store with a gun.

The girl, whose father said she turned 12 years old last month, has been charged as a juvenile with armed robbery.

Police said she stole a gun and used it to try to take cash from Country Lake Market in Highland Township.

“Somebody is trying to rob us. She’s outside right now, we’re holding her down,” the woman said.

She told the dispatcher she was in an aisle when she noticed someone go behind the cashier area.

“She had a mask on and pointed a gun at me,” the woman said. “I thought it was a joke at first.”

She describes the girl as not being older than 16.

A loaded 9mm handgun was recovered at the scene.

No one was injured.

The 12-year-old is being held at Oakland County’s Children’s Village without bond.

Her preliminary examination hearing is scheduled for April 26.