Charlotte County deputies got the call around 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3: gunshots reported at Harold Avenue Regional Park in Port Charlotte. What investigators say they found was a planned fight between two groups of teens, and one 16-year-old who allegedly showed up wearing a mask and carrying a Glock 19.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the weapon discharged when the teen tried to hit another person with it and missed. The victim was able to identify the suspect once the mask fell off. An anonymous tip on Sunday led detectives to the teen, who now faces one felony charge of aggravated assault without intent to kill. He was booked into the Charlotte County Jail and later transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice, with a court date set for Nov. 10. Deputies also recovered a Glock 19 with a purple grip, three magazines, 13 live rounds, and two spent rounds hidden in a red jacket in a wooded area behind nearby apartments.
For a park that hosts Little League games and weekend family gatherings, this story hits close to home. It also shows how one phone call can move a case forward, since the anonymous tip is what pointed detectives to their suspect. Have you thought about how you’d handle it if your kids came home talking about a planned fight at a local park? Share your thoughts with us.
