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A Florida teenager has been arrested after he allegedly shot and killed his sister during a dispute over Christmas gifts, per People.
Damarcus, 14, has been charged with 1st Degree Murder, Child Abuse, and Delinquent in Possession of a Firearm in connection to the fatal shooting of his sister, 23-year-old Abrielle Baldwin, at their grandmother's house, per the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Damarcus reportedly shot his sister in the chest, which prompted his 15-year-old brother, Darcus, to open fire against him in return. Darcus is facing charges of Attempted 1st Degree Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
Following the shootings, Abrielle and Damarcus were taken to the hospital, where the 14-year-old boy is currently in stable condition and the sister was pronounced dead on Sunday (December 24).
The incident is said to have stemmed from Damarcus being upset that Darcus received more Christmas gifts than him.
"Through their investigation, detectives learned Damarcus, 15-year-old Darcus Coley, and Abrielle, who are all siblings, went Christmas shopping with their mother and Abrielle’s 11-month-old and six-year-old sons," police said in a statement. "They then went to their grandmother’s home where Damarcus, Darcus, and Abrielle were involved in a verbal altercation over Christmas gifts."
"After Abrielle told Damarcus to stop arguing because it was Christmas, Damarcus told Abrielle he was going to shoot her and the 11-month-old she was holding in a baby carrier," the statement continued. "Damarcus shot Abrielle in the chest while Abrielle was holding the child in the carrier."
“Shortly thereafter, Darcus exited the residence with another firearm and shot Damarcus because Damarcus shot Abrielle,” the statement added. “Darcus then fled the scene, tossing his firearm into a nearby yard. Detectives have been unable to locate the firearm used by Darcus.”
After fleeing the scene, Darcus reached out to this mother and was later transported to a mental health facility.
“He will be transferred to the custody of the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center once he is released," police said.
An investigation into the incident is continuing, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
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