In Largo, Florida, a 23-year-old woman, carrying her 11-month-old son in a baby carrier, lost her life when her 14-year-old brother shot her while attempting to de-escalate a dispute over Christmas gifts with their 15-year-old brother, who was also armed, according to authorities.
Following the sister’s death on Sunday, the 15-year-old brother shot the 14-year-old, though the injuries were not fatal, as detailed in a news release from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. The argument initially arose during Christmas shopping with their mother and the sister’s two sons, aged 6 and 11 months. The conflict persisted at their grandmother’s house, where the 23-year-old sister intervened, urging her younger brother to stop arguing with his older sibling, given it was Christmas Eve. In response, the younger brother threatened to shoot his sister and her infant, eventually firing a shot into her chest, according to the sheriff’s office.
In reaction to the harm inflicted upon their sister, the older brother shot his younger sibling outside the home before fleeing and discarding his firearm in a nearby yard, authorities reported. Located thereafter, the older brother w as admitted to a mental health facility due to self-harm threats. Upon release, he is set to be transferred to a juvenile detention center, as stated in the official news release.
Charges against the 14-year-old brother include first-degree murder, child abuse, and possessing a firearm as a delinquent. The 15-year-old brother faces charges of attempted first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, according to the sheriff’s office.
News by Breaking911
