Two minors, a boy aged 12 and girl aged 14, broke into a Volusia County residence on Tuesday, discovered firearms and shot deputies, said Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
The two were found to have escaped from a group home.
Deputies were forced to shoot on the children, hitting the firl in the abdomen. She is currently in a safe situation.
The boy, on the other hand, yielded to the authorities and has not sustained any gunshot wound.
“I don’t know what to say. Where have we gone wrong that a 12-year-old and 14-year-old think it’s OK to take on law enforcement?” the sheriff said.
On Wednesday, Chitwood’s office released video footage taken from body cameras as well as from the helicopter deployed at the location.
“She’s pointing the gun. She’s pointing the gun behind the trash can,” an officer was heard saying before the deputies fired.
The two face charged of attempted murder of a law enforcement, based on the charging affidavits against. They were also charged with armed burglary.
Information from the interview with the boy was contained in the affidavits. He said he used a handgun, a shotgun and an AK-47 from the residence to fire at officers multiple times.
According to him, they spotted the deputies outside the house they broke into. The girl, citing the “Grand Theft Auto” video game, said: “I’m gonna roll this down like GTA.”
The sheriff said the boy “told detectives he knew they were cops when he shot them because he wanted to harm them. These are the words of a 12-year-old.”
Chitwood said the officers tried to soften the situation and attempted to negotiate with the children.
Officers protected themselves from the bullets coming from the residence through hiding behind trees.
“We try to de escalate, we throw a cell phone into the house to try to talk to them. The 14-year-old comes out of the garage with a pump shotgun, levels it at deputies, and despite warnings to drop it, she walks back into the garage. She comes back a second time, and that’s when deputies open fire,” he said.
