A 16-year-old is facing a felony charge of aggravated assault without intent to kill after deputies say he pulled a firearm during a fight at a Port Charlotte park on October 3rd. According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the teen tried to pistol-whip the victim during the altercation. The victim was able to identify the suspect after a facemask fell off while the gun was being racked.
Detectives later recovered a black Glock 19 with a purple grip, along with three magazines, 13 rounds of ammunition and two spent rounds, hidden inside a bag under a bush. The juvenile was arrested October 4th, booked into Charlotte County Jail and then transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice. A court date is scheduled for November 10th.
Sheriff Bill Prummell addressed the case directly, saying our local parks are supposed to be places where people of all ages can go and enjoy themselves. He added that decisions made today, especially bad ones, will have an effect on the rest of these kids’ lives. For Suncoast families who count on places like this for weekend ballgames and evening walks, the case raises a bigger question about how teens are getting access to firearms. What would make you feel safer at your neighborhood park? Let us know.
