Video After The Jump
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A 14-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy are facing attempted murder charges after police say the children walked away from a group home, broke into a house and used an AK-47 and other guns in shootout with Florida deputies.
The girl was critically wounded, but she remained in stable condition Thursday at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, according to law enforcement. The boy made his first appearance in court, charged with attempting to murder a law enforcement officer.
Each have been charged with attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and armed burglary of a dwelling, according to a charging affidavit. Now it is up to the State Attorney's Office, which received the affidavits on Thursday from the sheriff's office, to decide on what charges to file, and whether the children will be charged as adults.
Authorities say the two children left the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise late Tuesday afternoon. Deputies found them after they broke into a home, according to the sheriff’s office. The children spotted the deputies outside and armed themselves with handguns, an AK-47 assault-style rifle and a shotgun they found in the home.
The children then opened fire on the deputies, according to the sheriff’s office. The deputies initially did not return fire and a supervisor can be heard on body camera video telling deputies to stay back and not approach the house as they tried to de-escalate the situation. The deputies later shot the girl after she pointed a shotgun at them.
The wounded girl can be heard crying on the bodycam video as deputies worked to save her life. A deputy can be heard calling her sweetie and asking her name.
Deputies fired a total of 60 shots, and eight deputies have been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the results of an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The 12-year-old boy went before Circuit Judge Michael Orfinger on Thursday for his first appearance.
The boy stood quietly as Orfinger ordered he be held in secure detention for 21 days, according to video of the hearing. The boy's next hearing is June 23.
If charged as adults, the children could face up to life in prison, although since they are minors they would be entitled to have their sentences reviewed after 25 years.
Source: USA Today
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