A tragic incident took place this week in Florida when an 11-year-old youth football player allegedly shot at two of his teammates. It is reported that his teammates were 13 years old. The boys had got into an altercation after which the 11-year-old took this grave step.
TMZ Sports reported that the incident took place at the Apopka (Florida) Northwest Recreation Center around 8:20 p.m. on Monday. According to Mike McKinley, Apopka police chief, “[The altercation] continued into the parking lot where this juvenile had access to a firearm in his mother’s car.”
The police chief further explained that the youngster squeezed off a single round and in the process hit both his teammates with a single shot. The suspect remains unnamed due to the fact that he is a minor. Cases of such nature will be handled very carefully. However, it is shocking that such an incident happened.
SHOCKING surveillance video allegedly shows the moment an 11-year-old youth football player shot two of his teammates during an altercation at a practice in Florida on Monday. https://t.co/LrLSAwbYGF pic.twitter.com/TQwyFYOoQK
— TMZ (@TMZ) October 3, 2023
Out of the two 13-year-old victims, one was shot in the arm and the other was hit in the upper body. “Fired one shot,” McKinley said, “and that one shot hit both victims.”
According to TMZ, the youngster is being “charged with one count of second-degree attempted murder (more charges could be tacked on).” It is also reported that the parent might be charged as well. Parents cannot keep firearms at a place where it is accessible to their children. “It is a crime to allow your children to have access to your firearm in an unsecured box.” Chief McKinley said.
He further stated, “Nobody wants to arrest an 11-year-old, by any means, but based on our investigation we feel those charges are warranted.” Thankfully, it has been reported that both the victims are going to be okay.
Fans are concerned about the alarming incident where an 11-year-old shoots at two of his teammates
Fans all across social media have shown concern over the alarming incident. America has been a witness to several tragic incidents involving shootings. This adds to the unwanted list. One fan wrote, “America has a problem.”
America has a problem https://t.co/VZ7nSfDmBR
— Bellatrix Lestrange (@jamjam_moriarty) October 4, 2023
Another fan blamed the parent and asked why the gun was accessible to the child. They wrote, “Parents gotta be more careful with guns. Why was the gun so accessible ?”
Parents gotta be more careful with guns. Why was the gun so accessible ?
— Depressed Dolphins fan (@Magical_Answer) October 4, 2023
Meanwhile, one fan asked to bring in changes so that these events do not occur again. They wrote, “We gotta make some changes man.”
We gotta make some changes man https://t.co/gldHxqqAbI
— 🇧🇧 (@rhmlm) October 4, 2023
It is tragic that such an event had to unfold. No further comments have been made by the police. We will have to wait for the legal proceedings to uncover further truths about the matter.