- October 13, 2024
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A juvenile who took two handguns from his older brother said he did so to scare other children he was in a dispute with.
The incident took place on Jan. 17 when the Flagler County Sheriff's Office received a call from a man saying that his child had gone to Holland Park to fight other juveniles; he later called back saying two firearms were missing from the home. Deputies went to both the residence and Holland Park in order prevent a potentially deadly situation, a press release from FCSO said.
The child returned to his home shortly after deputies arrived, the release said, but without the guns. He told deputies that he took the two guns and some cash from his older brother to scare other children he and his friends new would be at the park, the press release said.
The juvenile has been charged with two counts of grand theft of a firearm, sending written threats to kill and grand theft.
Sheriff Rick Staly thanked the father for speaking up and urged parents to talk to their kids.
"Parents, be the Sheriff in your home and talk to your children on how to handle disagreements," he said. "Taking a gun to an argument is not it. If you don’t, we will be the Sheriff to your children and the outcome will likely be an arrest."
The child told deputies that he was "involved in an ongoing dispute with other juveniles in the area," the press release said. He returned home after reaching Holland Park and seeing the deputies there. Deputies searched the juvenile's phone and found several threats about shooting and killing others, the press release said.
The two handguns were later recovered at the homes of several of the juvenile's friends' homes, according to the press release. One was found in the woods behind a house where two of the friends live; the two are not being charged at this time, although the investigation is ongoing.
The other handgun was found in a home that another friend was hiding out in — that person is being charged with possession of a firearm by a minor, tampering with evidence and grand theft of a firearm.
Neither of the two juveniles who were arrested were enrolled in the Flagler County school system, the press release said.
