CITRUS PARK, Fla. — Deputies say they have arrested the teen responsible for shooting and killing 16-year-old Peter "PJ" Hyman last weekend at the Citrus Park mall.
Samuel Oquendo, 15, was arrested Thursday night and charged with second-degree murder, minor in possession of a firearm and carrying a concealed firearm. 10 Tampa Bay is identifying the minor because, according to the state attorney's office, he will be charged as an adult.
Detectives said two groups of boys met at the mall parking garage for a planned "slapboxing" event. After finishing "slapboxing," the boys reportedly shook hands and parted ways. But it didn't end there.
Just after 7 p.m. Saturday, boys from both groups came back outside of the Citrus Park Town Center Mall and a fight broke out, the agency said. That's when Hyman was shot. He died a short time later at the hospital.
Detectives said they gathered enough evidence to arrest Oquendo for his alleged involvement in the deadly shooting.
10 Tampa Bay spoke with PJ Hyman's mother, Bianca Cooper, after the news of the arrest broke.
"I'm relieved they caught the person who did this because it gives us a bit of closure, but it will never bring him back," Cooper said.
Cooper said she is glad to have more clarity about what happened Saturday night but angry that the shooting broke out over something "so stupid."
"It just makes me angry inside and it hurts," she said. "I see the boys playing slapboxing all the time, it's something they do, and then to hear they shook hands and walked off and then it sounds like someone was upset… it's just so, so senseless."
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said the investigation is ongoing. They are still working to figure out how Oquendo got his hands on the gun he used.
“I’m proud of our detectives for their work and determination in finding the person responsible for this tragic act. Their dedication is bringing the individual responsible for this senseless act to justice," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. "There is no excuse for a teenager to have access to a weapon. It is our responsibility as parents to hold them accountable before it’s too late. Parents, please have those important conversations with your children. Make them understand the consequences of their actions, especially when it comes to firearms."
According to Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez, the 15-year-old will be charged as an adult, "because he made an adult decision with a firearm."
“We will continue to use every tool we can as prosecutors to hold teenagers accountable for acts of gun violence in Hillsborough County," Lopez said in a statement. "This 15-year-old defendant will be facing adult charges because he made an adult decision with a firearm. It breaks our hearts to see another young person lost to gun violence. We will stand with the victim’s family to ensure the person responsible for his death is held accountable."