INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 14-year-old suspected of firing two rounds inside a car during a drug deal turned robbery, was arrested Wednesday, deputies said.
The youth beat another juvenile before pointing a firearm at him and demanding marijuana, reports show. The teenager asked the victim if he “wanted to die today,” deputies said.
The Gifford teen was charged with armed robbery with a firearm and discharging a firearm in public or on residential property. It was unclear if the youth was taken to a juvenile detention center.
No one was struck by the gunfire, Indian River County sheriff’s spokesman Maj. Eric Flowers said.
“It appears to be a drug deal gone bad,” Flowers previously said. “(The victim) was trying to sell marijuana and they robbed him.”
Deputies responded to reports of shots fired about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pemberly Palms Apartments. Deputies detained two teens, including the 14-year-old, seen running from the complex in the 800 block of 5th Avenue.
The 17-year-old victim, with bloodied hands and marks on his face, told deputies he arranged to meet his friend to sell him 14 grams of marijuana, reports show. The victim waited inside his Toyota Corolla for his friend when the 14-year-old hopped in the back passenger seat and asked to buy the cannabis.
The victim thought his friend sent the teenager to make the purchase, so the victim proceeded with the drug deal, reports show. When the two were about to exchange drugs and money, a third juvenile hopped in the back driver’s seat.
The two youths – who the victim did not know – began hitting the victim in the face and neck as they tried to steal the marijuana, reports show. When the victim fought back, the 14-year-old pulled out a revolver and pointed it at the victim’s face.
The victim told deputies he feared for his life. When the victim pushed the firearm out of his face, the 14-year-old fired two shots into the passenger compartment, reports show.
The victim then gave the juveniles the marijuana. The two teenagers ran from the area, but were eventually caught by deputies.
Deputies recovered the gun, which they said was stolen. The teen gunman told deputies he bought the firearm Tuesday for $100 for protection in the drug deal, reports show.
The teenager denied threatening the victim and said the gun discharged accidentally. Deputies found one bullet hole in the passenger seat of the car, which was taken into the sheriff’s office for evidence.
Deputies arrested the teen. It was unclear if anyone else was arrested or if deputies were still searching for other people involved.