By Luz Root
This week, a 17-year-old was arrested in connection to a deadly shooting that occurred earlier this month. On July 14th, officers responded to a car crash in Lake Lawne Park, near Mercy Drive. Inside the vehicle, they found a 19-year-old with a gunshot wound. The driver unfortunately died at the scene.
Two weeks later, on July 30th, detectives arrested a teen in connection with the homicide and charged him with first-degree felony murder with a firearm, attempted robbery with a firearm, and shooting into an occupied vehicle. The teen, who has not been identified in the
because of his age, could be facing a life sentence, if charged as an adult. The State Attorney’s Office has discretion in deciding whether to charge the juvenile as an adult. When a juvenile is charged as an adult, it’s called “direct file.” When direct filing, the State considers many factors, such as, the juvenile’s age, the seriousness of the offense, and prior criminal history. In this case, the juvenile is 17 years old and facing a murder offense. Most likely, the state will direct-file him. As of today, the teen’s case is still pending in juvenile court, and there are many unanswered questions in this still-confidential-case. It is unclear as to whether this incident occurred in self-defense, if the juvenile suffered any injuries caused by the deceased, if there were any eye-witnesses or surveillance videos, or whether other unknown parties were involved. Hopefully, these questions and many more will be answered as the case runs its course. Navigating both Juvenile and Adult Criminal Cases requires an experienced attorney, and the Smith and Eulo Law Firm is here to assist with any of your legal needs. If you or your loved one are being accused of committing a crime, you should consult with one of our Criminal Defense Attorneys, don’t hesitate to call us at
352-WIN-4YOU We are available 24/7 and we offer payment plans.
