Teen Fatally Shoots Sister in Florida After Christmas Argument
A tragic incident unfolded in Florida when a 14-year-old boy allegedly shot and killed his older sister during a heated argument over Christmas presents. The shocking incident took place on Christmas Eve, according to officials.
The teenager, accompanied by his 23-year-old sister Abrielle Baldwin, their mother, and their 15-year-old brother, had been out shopping together. However, tensions escalated when the two brothers began arguing about the number of presents each of them would receive.
"They had this family spat about who was getting what and what money was being spent on who, and they were having this big thing going on in this store," shared Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri during a press conference.
Unfortunately, the argument continued even after they returned to their grandmother's house in Largo, a city located about half an hour's drive from Tampa. The purpose of their visit was for their grandmother to babysit Baldwin's baby boy and her 6-year-old son while she was at work.
On Christmas Day, a tragic incident unfolded when two teenage brothers got into a heated argument that turned violent. According to authorities, the 14-year-old boy pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and threatened to shoot his older brother in the head. Sensing the danger, the older brother urged his sibling to leave the house. Thankfully, one of their uncles intervened and managed to separate the teens.
Outside the house, the situation escalated further. The 14-year-old boy directed derogatory words towards his sister and threatened to harm her and her baby. Shockingly, he followed through on his threat and shot his sister in the chest. Fortunately, the baby, who was in a carrier, remained unharmed.
In a desperate act of self-defense, the 15-year-old brother retrieved his own semiautomatic handgun and shot his younger sibling in the stomach. He then fled the scene, discarding the gun in a nearby yard. The younger teen was later apprehended at a relative's house.
Tragically, the sister, identified as Baldwin, did not survive her injuries. She was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead. The bullet had passed through her left arm and entered her chest, causing damage to both of her lungs and resulting in internal bleeding.
Teenage Boy Charged with Murder After Shooting Incident
A 14-year-old boy who was injured in a shooting incident has undergone surgery and is now in stable condition at a local hospital. The boy has been charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, and being a delinquent in possession of a firearm, according to the police. The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office will review the case and determine whether the teen will be charged as an adult.
In addition, the boy's brother has also been charged in connection with the incident. He is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. Both teenagers have previous arrests related to car burglaries.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri expressed concern over the prevalence of firearms among young delinquents. "These young kids - 14, 15 years old - routinely carry firearms and this is what happens when you have young delinquents who carry guns," Gualtieri said. "They get upset, they don't know how to handle things, and they end up shooting each other."
