Florida teen accused of fatally shooting mom, injuring her boyfriend before police standoff
Florida authorities responded to a fatal shooting Saturday during which they say a 14-year-old boy shot his mother and her boyfriend before pointing the gun at himself.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said during a press conference that they received several 911 calls Saturday shortly after 4 p.m. from a residential neighborhood in Riverview, a town south of Tampa. The calls notified authorities of an injured man and another man outside in the neighborhood with a firearm that he put to his head.
When deputies responded, they came in contact with the individual waving the firearm and engaged in a 16-minute negotiation with him. He repeatedly put the gun to his head, but eventually he put it down, Chronister said. The deputies fired one "less-lethal" 40 millimeter launcher when the suspect tried to retrieve the gun from the ground.
"They used their remarkable intuition and expertise to determine this suspect was not looking to harm them, but was contemplating suicide," Chronister said.
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Man survives with five gunshot wounds
The suspect was taken into custody and identified as a 14-year-old boy.
While on the scene, police came in contact with the boy's brother. He told police that he heard his mother and her boyfriend arguing, followed by gunshots. When he went to the source of the noise, he saw his brother shoot his mother once or twice. The brother fled after having the gun pointed at him.
The mother's body was found in a nearby driveway. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her boyfriend, the injured man, found shelter at a neighbor's house. Chronister said that he sustained five gunshot wounds, including to the torso, the face and one through each hand. He was transported to Tampa General Hospital, and as of Saturday night was sedated in critical condition.
The police were still investigating as of Monday morning and have not yet brought charges against the individual.