A 14-year-old teenager is accused of having shot his sister, before being shot himself by his 15-year-old brother during a family drama fueled by a banal argument surrounding gifts on Christmas Eve. far from Tampa, Florida.
According to what Sheriff Bob Gualtieri explained at a press conference Tuesday, Abrielle Baldwin, 23, went shopping with her mother, her two brothers – Damarcus Coley, 14, and Darcus Coley, 15, and her two sons. – a 6 year old child and an 11 month old baby.
Subsequently, the family went to the grandmother of the sister and two brothers, where a conflict over Christmas presents broke out between the three protagonists.
Sheriff Gualtieri said Abrielle allegedly told Damarcus to stop complaining. In response, the little brother brandished a pistol and threatened to shoot his sister and her baby who she was carrying.
The 14-year-old finally opened fire on Abrielle, hitting her in the chest. She died shortly after, but fortunately her baby was spared from the shot.
Shortly after, the older brother, Darcus, decided to avenge his sister by opening fire on his brother using another gun, causing him significant injuries. Darcus then fled and disposed of his weapon in the neighborhood. He eventually turned himself in to authorities after calling his mother and discussing the idea of ending his life.
Gun problem
Damarcus will ultimately face charges of murder, possession of a firearm and child endangerment.
Darcus, for his part, will face a charge of attempted murder and a charge of disposing of evidence, as the gun he used was not found by police.
Sheriff Gualtieri sought, through this tragedy, to raise awareness among his fellow citizens of the scourge of firearms which end up in the hands of minors, who often steal them from cars.
“In the last 30 days, we have received 17 reports of guns stolen from junked cars. (…) Help us because we have a problem,” said Bob Gualtieri, calling on his fellow citizens to lock their car doors.
