Florida teen, 14, charged with murdering 19-year-old during botched gun deal: cops

A teenage boy is accused of capturing and killing a 19-year-old in broad daylight following a botched gun deal exterior a Greenback Normal in Florida – with cops arresting the juvenile greater than 12 months after the deadly scuffle.

Kydris Jackson, 14, was charged with second-degree homicide after the sufferer, Griffin Smith, was discovered riddled with bullets inside his Dodge Ram pickup moments after he bought a firearm from the then 13-year-old gunman on Dec. 2, 2023, the Marion County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned. 

Police mentioned the sufferer met Jackson on the Greenback Normal on Marion Oaks Boulevard to buy the gun when the alleged perp tried to swindle him for more cash after the pair agreed to a $350 fee, in line with courtroom docs obtained by native shops. 

Following the deal-gone-wrong, the teenager suspect fired off a number of photographs on the sufferer as he tried to drive away, in line with cops, who later discovered 14 rifle shells close to the deadly scene. 

Police responded to the scene round 3:15 p.m. and located the sufferer’s truck within the tree line with Smith wounded inside, police mentioned.

The gun bought from the alleged teen killer was additionally seized from the Dodge Ram.

Smith was taken to a neighborhood hospital the place he died, police mentioned.

The teenager runaway fled the scene however was arrested days later in Alachua County when authorities discovered him driving a stolen car, which prompted a quick police pursuit.

A gun was additionally recovered from the stolen automotive, which resulted in a year-long investigation that concerned witness interviews, DNA evaluation and data evaluate to hyperlink the teenager to the deadly slaying.

Jackson, who was already in custody for a separate incident, was arrested and charged within the jailhouse.

He’s being held on the Marion County Regional Juvenile Detention Middle.