A cheerful Christmas shopping outing took a devastating turn when a teenage boy tragically opened fire due to his disappointment with the Christmas gifts he received. The 14-year-old seemed to be upset that his 15-year-old brother was getting more presents than him. After a heated argument, the younger brother drew a gun and fatally shot his older sister, who was attempting to address her brother's unruly behavior.
From Newser:
Per NBC Miami and WFLA, authorities in Pinellas County say a 14-year-old became upset on Christmas Eve after believing his 15-year-old brother was getting more gifts for the holiday and pulled a gun on him at their grandmother's house after their shopping expedition, threatening to shoot him in the head. The boys' 23-year-old sister, Abrielle Baldwin, was at the house at the time to drop off her two young children and started to argue with the 14-year-old over his behavior, per Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
That's when, according to Gualtieri's office, the 14-year-old insulted his sister, then shot her with a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun. The 15-year-old then allegedly shot his younger brother in the stomach with a different gun, proclaiming, "You shot my motherf---ing sister." Baldwin died at a nearby hospital of a single gunshot wound to the chest, per Gualtieri. The 14-year-old was also taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery. The 15-year-old, meanwhile, is said to have thrown his gun in a nearby yard and was arrested at a family member's home in Clearwater, per the sheriff's office. Authorities say he's since been taken to a mental health facility after alluding to self-harm.
The Tampa Bay Times, which IDs the teens due to the seriousness of the alleged crimes, also details their past infractions: The 14-year-old has been charged in the past with vehicle theft, battery on a school employee, and battery on a law enforcement officer, according to Gualtieri. The 15-year-old, meanwhile, was arrested alongside his younger brother in May for multiple car burglaries; both also have faced charges previously for possession of a firearm as a minor. The charges they're facing this time include first-degree murder, child abuse, and being a minor in possession of a firearm for the 14-year-old, and attempted first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence for the 15-year-old.
Both of these young men come across as ticking time bombs, flaunting lengthy rap sheets to boot. It's regrettable, but not entirely surprising, that a tragedy of this nature occurred, given the pervasive violence that these two teens were steeped in.
