Florida Teen Charged with Attempted Murder after Shooting at Officers
A 14-year-old boy in Florida has been charged with three counts of attempted murder after opening fire on deputies in Hardee County. The incident took place Nov. 26, in Wauchula, where the three deputies were sent to respond to a potential burglary.
When they arrived at the site, the 14-year-old, who has not been named, opened fire on the deputies, and they then returned with fire of their own.
The deputies struck the teen, according to a local TV station, which required him to be hospitalized at Tampa General Hospital. It is not clear where the teen was shot or how many times he was struck.
After he was released from the hospital, the boy was charged with three counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, armed burglary, and theft of a firearm. He was then handed over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
According to television reports, the teen will not be charged as an adult. He reportedly disappeared from Lakeside Neurologic, a brain injury rehabilitation center in Wauchula, Florida
The teenager allegedly committed several burglaries prior to the shootout with the deputies, who have since been cleared to return to work. Prior to the string of alleged criminal activity, the teenager disappeared from Lakeside Neurologic, a brain injury rehabilitation center in Wauchula.