SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) – Police say five teenage beggars who worked as boot cleaners in the Dominican Republic have been charged with killing a 7-year-old boy who was part of their group.

Police spokesman Maximo Baez says the teens are accused of beating Randy Beltran to death with a concrete brick and then throwing his body into an abandoned property. The teens range in age from 13 to 15 and also are accused of stealing $8 from him.

Baez said Wednesday that the teens told police they were jealous of the boy’s ability to make money from begging. A sixth suspect is on the run.

The group had begged for money in an upscale neighborhood in the northern part of Santo Domingo.

If found guilty, the teens would serve five years in a juvenile center.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Follow @KTAR923