- November 27, 2024
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The person arrested after an 18-month-old girl was shot and killed on Sept. 3 had been arrested in 2022 for carrying a firearm without a license.
The suspect, a 21-year-old man, is a "person of interest" in the shooting case but was arrested on an unrelated charge of parole violation.
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies had responded to Ranwood Lane after a report that a child had been shot. Several witnesses in the home provided sworn statements that the person of interest handled the firearm and spoke of the weapon being “jammed” before the shooting, according to the man’s Sept. 4 arrest report.
The shooting may have been accidental, and Major Case Unit detectives are still investigating, according to statements from the FCSO.
In April, the 21-year-old man had pleaded no contest to two charges — possessing a gun without a license, and marijuana possession — and was placed on six months’ probation.
The FCSO charged him on Sept. 4 with violating his parole by possessing or carrying a firearm.
In audio from the 911 call on Sept. 3, an unnamed man told the operator, “the baby has been shot.” The call lasted 7 minutes and 15 seconds. The operator could be heard repeatedly asking the man about the baby's condition.
“I know you’re upset, but try to answer my questions the best you can,” the operator said. “Is the baby breathing?”
Initially, the caller thought the girl had already died, telling the operator a gun went off and shot the 18-month-old in the head. Then, halfway through the call, he told the operator the baby was breathing.
“The baby’s breathing,” he said. “She’s conscious, she’s breathing.”
The man could be heard calling the girl’s name and telling her to stay strong and stay awake. “Breathe, baby, it’s okay,” he said. “Be strong for me, baby.”
The operator ended the call when FCSO deputies arrived on scene. Fire rescue personnel took the child to AdventHealth Palm Coast, where she later died.
