A troubling event occurred on Monday evening at the football field of the Northwest Recreation Complex in Apopka, Florida with the video of the boy shooting his teammates during a Pop Warner training session viral
Surveillance footage recorded a distressing incident in which an 11-year-old youth football player discharged a firearm at two of his teammates during a heated disagreement at practice.
Video of 11 year old boy shooting teammates during Pop Warner football training session in Northwest Recreation Complex Apopka, FL goes viral
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
11-Year-Old Arrested For Shooting Two 13-Year-Olds During Football Practice
An 11-year-old football player has been arrested for shooting two 13-year-old teammates following an altercation during their football practice at the Northwest Recreation Complex, Apopka, Florida… pic.twitter.com/sTnaowSJX2
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) October 4, 2023
This deeply unsettling incident has had a profound impact on the community, prompting concerns about the availability of firearms and the issue of youth violence.
What Exactly Happened?
The police have released surveillance footage that appears to depict the moment when an 11-year-old boy purportedly shot two of his fellow teammates, a shocking incident that has deeply impacted the nation.
In the video, the alleged shooter can be observed rushing towards a vehicle, retrieving a firearm, and discharging a single shot.
Subsequently, his mother seized the weapon, took hold of him, and guided him back toward the SUV. The incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute over a bag of chips, which had been knocked from the boy’s hands during a Pop Warner practice session.
The gunshot Inflicted an injury on one teammate’s back, and it is believed that the same bullet struck another juvenile in the arm. Both children were promptly transported to the hospital and are anticipated to make a full recovery.
Charges on the 11-year-old
Due to his age, the child’s identity is being withheld. Apopka Police Chief Michael McKinley announced one charge of attempted second-degree murder against the young boy during a news conference on Tuesday.
The firearm he retrieved was obtained from an unlocked container inside his mother’s SUV. Authorities indicated their intention to pursue legal action against the mother because the weapon was accessible to a child, constituting a second-degree misdemeanor. The mother informed officers that the gun was stored in an unlocked container beneath her seat, and the boy was aware of its location.
Apopka Police Chief Mike McKinley acknowledged the difficulty of arresting an 11-year-old but asserted that the charges were deemed appropriate based on their investigation.
He emphasized the disturbing nature of juveniles having access to firearms, particularly the misconception that a firearm can resolve their problems. In reality, he stressed, it only exacerbates the problems for all parties involved.
The suspect is presently being held at a juvenile detention center.
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