LARGO, Fla. — Two teens are in custody after a shooting resulted in the death of their sister on Christmas Eve, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said.
And it all started as an argument over Christmas presents before the teens pulled out guns, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said.
The 14-year-old was not happy with the amount of presents his 15-year-old brother was getting from their mom. The argument continued to Grandma’s house, where the sister’s kids were going to stay while she went to work.
Once at the home, the 14-year-old reportedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at his brother, threatening to shoot him in the head. Gualtieri said an uncle at the home separated the teens and took the 14-year-old outside.
Also outside was their sister, 23-year-old Abrielle Baldwin, holding her 11-month-old baby in a carrier. At some point, the sister told the teens to essentially “chill out,” according to Gualtieri. Instead of doing that, the 14-year-old shot her in the chest, “tearing up her insides,” the sheriff said.
Her baby was not hurt because the child was in the carrier.
Right after the 14-year-old shot Abrielle, sending her crumpling to the ground, the 15-year-old also pulled out a gun and shot his brother in the stomach.
Abrielle was rushed to the hospital where she died.
The 14-year-old was taken for treatment at the hospital and survived. He remains in the hospital as he recovers but is in custody, the sheriff’s office said.
After the shooting, the 15-year-old ran away, discarding the gun and going to a relative’s house in Clearwater. He was later arrested and taken to a juvenile detention center.
Gualtieri said both teens were known to carry guns at all times due to recent crimes in the Ridgecrest area.
The 14-year-old was charged with first-degree murder, child abuse and delinquent in possession of a firearm. The 15-year-old was charged with attempted first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.
The investigation is ongoing.
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