PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A 17-year-old boy is dead after an attempted robbery turned shooting involving multiple other minors early Monday morning in Largo, according to law enforcement.
Multiple units from the Largo Police Department, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and Pinellas Park Police Department received 911 calls just after midnight regarding a shooting outside the Charleston on 66 apartment complex, located on 66th Street N near 126th Avenue N.
Officers arrived to find a 17-year-old boy lying on the sidewalk with at least three gunshot wounds, Largo Police Chief Mike Loux said. He was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
Pinellas Park officers found another teen, about 16 years old, with multiple gunshot wounds several blocks west. He also had a firearm near him, according to police. That teen was hospitalized and is expected to survive.
Detectives determined that the 16-year-old boy who was shot was hanging out with a group of other teens traveling between the apartment complex and the parking lot of the nearby Skyzone Trampoline Park. Among that group was the 17-year-old boy's 15-year-old sister.
The police chief said that the 15-year-old girl was feeding her brother and his friend information in an attempt to set up a robbery. They were planning on stealing a firearm from the 16-year-old boy in the group, according to Loux.
About seven minutes past midnight, the 17-year-old boy and his friend reportedly confronted the 16-year-old to steal his gun.
A shootout ensued, and the 17-year-old boy and 16-year-old boy were shot.
The police chief said a bullet also hit the windshield of a car driving by on 66th Street. No one in that car was injured, but the driver took themselves to the hospital for a panic attack.
The 15-year-old girl accused of coordinating the robbery was arrested and charged with felony second-degree murder.
The other teen accused of joining the 17-year-old in the robbery was also arrested and charged with felony second-degree murder and attempted felony murder.
"Both of these subjects were carrying 9mm Glock firearms and that's two of the weapons that were involved in the case," the police chief said.
Detectives are still working to find out if the guns were stolen.