(ReliableNews.org) – Sometimes kids have a hard time regulating their emotions. Adults work with them to figure out how to resolve conflicts in a healthy manner, and sports can be a great way to teach a child those skills. But an 11-year-old in Florida allegedly took things too far when he got upset.
On October 2, kids gathered at football practice at Pop Warner in Apopka, Florida. At about 8:30 p.m., police responded to the field after an 11-year-old reportedly got into an altercation with two 13-year-olds.
Video of the incident showed one of the suspect’s teammates chasing him into the parking lot. The 11-year-old is seen running to his mom’s car and grabbing her gun, which was not secure. He then fires. A few moments later a woman, who appears to be his mom, runs over to the suspect and grabs the weapon.
Reports indicated one of the children suffered a gunshot wound to the torso and the other child was hit in the arm. Apopka Police Chief Mike McKinley said both of the kids were rushed to a hospital nearby. They were still recovering in the medical center the day after the shooting.
Police charged the 11-year-old with attempted second-degree murder. Unlike other criminal cases where law enforcement stacks charges, the police chief said he didn’t see any reason to do that. He said the suspect was “very quiet and shy” and that he was “looking very somber.”
McKinley called the incident a tragedy and said no officer wants to put a child in jail. He said kids are “ruining their lives” by using guns to solve issues that they are having. He called on Americans to “reflect” on what’s happening in the country. He said, “We see this all the time now.”
The suspect’s mother could also face charges for not properly securing her firearm.
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