A teenager from Florida shot and killed his sister on Christmas Eve after an argument over Christmas presents escalated beyond control, police say.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri provided details of the incident during a news conference on Tuesday, as cited by the Independent.
The 14-year-old boy is accused of fatally shooting his 23-year-old sister, Abrielle Baldwin, after they had been out shopping together to get last-minute gifts.
According to Sheriff Gualtieri, the dispute began in a store, with the siblings quarreling about who was receiving more gifts and how money was being spent.
The argument persisted as the family gathered at their grandmother's house in Largo, a city near Tampa, to celebrate Christmas. The purpose of the visit was to allow the grandmother to babysit Baldwin's children while she was at work.
While in the house tensions began to escalate with other family members and the 14-year-old allegedly brandished a semiautomatic handgun, threatening his older brother with a gunshot to the head.
The older sibling attempted to defuse the situation, urging his brother to leave the house. An uncle intervened, separating the brothers and escorting the 14-year-old outside, where Baldwin was with her baby.
Despite pleas from his sister, the 14-year-old reportedly used derogatory language and threatened to shoot her and her baby. Tragically, he shot Baldwin in the chest at approximately 1:45PM local time.
Baldwin's baby, who was in a carrier, remained unharmed.
Following the shooting, the 15-year-old brother emerged from the house with his own semiautomatic handgun. He allegedly shot the younger teen in the stomach before fleeing and discarding the weapon in a nearby yard. Authorities apprehended the wounded 14-year-old at a relative's house.
Baldwin was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The bullet had traversed her left arm, entering her chest and causing damage to both lungs, leading to internal bleeding and respiratory complications.
The 14-year-old underwent surgery and is now in stable condition at a hospital. He faces charges of first-degree murder, child abuse, and being a delinquent in possession of a firearm.
The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office will determine whether he will be charged as an adult.
The 15-year-old brother has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. Both teens have prior arrests related to car burglaries.
Sheriff Gualtieri said: "These young kids - 14, 15 years old - routinely carry firearms, and this is what happens when you got young delinquents that carry guns. They get upset, they don't know how to handle stuff, and they end up shooting each other."
Noting the number of minors carrying firearms, the Sheriff continued: "In the last thirty days, we’ve taken reports where 17 guns have been stolen from unlocked cars. This proliferation of guns on the streets and guns in this area and guns in the hands of these kids is the worst I’ve ever seen. I don’t think we’ve ever seen it this bad. Help us because we have a problem."
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
