An 11-year-old youth football player has been taken into custody on suspicion of shooting and injuring two fellow players during a practice session in Florida on Monday evening, as per authorities.
The incident occurred at a recreation complex in Apopka, just outside Orlando, following a dispute between the 11-year-old and two 13-year-olds during a Pop Warner football practice, revealed Apopka Police Chief Mike McKinley during a press briefing on Tuesday.
One of the teenagers received treatment at a hospital and has been discharged, while the other was still undergoing treatment as of Tuesday. The injuries consisted of one teen wounded in the arm and the other in the torso, as relayed by Chief McKinley.
The 11-year-old accessed a gun from his mother's unlocked car, where the firearm was stored in an unlocked box, according to the chief. The child discharged the weapon, striking both teenagers with a single shot.
Upon receiving the call, the police arrived at the complex, and the 11-year-old was taken into custody and booked into a juvenile assessment center, facing preliminary charges of second-degree attempted murder, as stated by Chief McKinley.
Authorities are currently exploring the possibility of charging adults in connection with the incident. Video evidence indicates that the teenagers were running at the time the gun was discharged, Chief McKinley added.
The firearm used in the shooting was legally owned, McKinley noted, but investigators remain uncertain about the cause of the altercation between the youths.
The 11-year-old had no prior criminal history, as confirmed by the chief, who expressed hope that the child would receive the necessary assistance to ensure that this event doesn't define the rest of their life, given their young age.
Apopka Pop Warner released a statement expressing deep sadness over the incident and offering condolences to the affected families. They canceled Tuesday's practices, provided counseling services for those in need, and scheduled parent meetings for Wednesday.
In another development, a 22-year-old man found himself in hot water when he got arrested for carrying over a dozen bags of marijuana in his car, as per the Marion County Sheriff's Office. See detailed story here.
Comments
Post a Comment