CELEBRATION, Fla. — A 17-year-old was arrested and is facing multiple charges after he shot another teen in the parking lot of a Publix in Osceola County, deputies say.
According to a Facebook post from the sheriff's office, the incident started at around 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday when multiple calls came into the agency about shots fired in the area of Blake Boulevard in Celebration.
Once detectives arrived on scene, they found a 17-year-old who had been shot several times in the parking lot. The teen was taken to Orlando Regional Hospital and is said to be OK.
And luckily for law enforcement, the teen shot was able to identify who pulled the trigger. Detectives immediately started searching for the suspected shooter, another 17-year-old whom the victim named.
After going to the accused teen shooter's house, a search warrant was executed for their arrest. Deputies said they found guns and live ammunition when they looked through the home.
The 17-year-old was arrested and taken to a juvenile detention center facing multiple charges, including:
- Premeditated murder (attempted)
- Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon
- Discharging firearm in public
- Improper exhibition of firearm
- Possession of a firearm by adjudicated delinquent
- Possess of firearm by a juvenile
The agency explains detectives also found a blue car involved in the shooting which was registered to someone in Polk County. The driver was identified as 18-year-old Maliky Blair who was also arrested and booked into jail on criminal traffic violations with other charges incoming.
"I want to thank the brave men and women of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office who relentlessly, through investigative leads, quickly located and arrested [the suspect] at his residence, without incident, for attempted murder," Sheriff Marcos Lopez said in a statement. "The dedication to public safety and keeping our community safe is of the utmost priority."
According to the sheriff's office, there is no threat to the public. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing at this time.
