A 14-year-old boy used offensive language towards his sister before shooting her in the chest with a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Police said the argument started between the 14-year-old and his 15-year-old brother over jealousy about Christmas presents.
A dispute between two teenage brothers turned fatal on Christmas Eve in Pinellas County, Florida. Police reported that a 14-year-old boy and his 15-year-old brother got into an argument over Christmas presents. The deadly shooting occurred on Sunday.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said that the 14-year-old was jealous of his brother because their mother was buying the 15-year-old more gifts than him. After the family finished shopping, they went to their grandmother’s house in Largo, Florida.
Shooting happened at grandmother’s house after 23-year-old Abrielle Baldwin arrives
According to WFLA, it was reported that during this time, the teenager’s sister, Abrielle Baldwin, 23, was on her way to drop off her 11-month-old and 6-year-old sons at their grandmother’s house before heading to work. While at their grandmother’s home, Sheriff Gualtieri said the 14-year-old pulled out a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and threatened to shoot his 15-year-old brother in the head.
The teenagers sister Baldwin told the boys to drop the argument before she was shot by her 14-year-old brother
The outlet reported that the 15-year-old did not want to fight his brother, and after Baldwin told them to stop arguing, she and her 14-year-old brother started arguing.
Sheriff Gualtieri stated that the 14-year-old began calling Baldwin derogatory names before shooting her in the chest. After the shooting, the 15-year-old brother then shot the 14-year-old in the stomach while saying, “You shot my m***** f****** sister.”
15-year-old brother fled the scene after he shot his 14-year-old brother for shooting their sister, Abrielle Baldwin
According to the sheriff, the 15-year-old fled the scene and threw his gun into a nearby yard. Police said the teenager was subsequently arrested at a relative’s residence in Clearwater. He was then taken to a mental health facility after he expressed intent to harm himself.
Baldwin was transported to a nearby hospital with a single gunshot wound and was later pronounced dead. The 14-year-old was transported to the hospital, where he underwent surgery.
The 14-year-old is facing charges of first-degree murder, child abuse, and possession of a firearm as a delinquent. The 15-year-old is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.
The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office will now review the case and determine whether the 14-year-old will be charged as an adult.
