LARGO, FL – Tragedy struck a Florida family on Christmas Eve when a 14-year-old boy allegedly shot his sister dead over a dispute about Christmas gifts, according to officials on Tuesday. The alleged assailant and his older sister, 23-year-old Abrielle Baldwin, were out Christmas shopping along with their mother, a 15-year-old brother, and Baldwin’s children. During the outing, the two brothers got into in a fight about who was getting more presents, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri reported at a news conference.
The argument later continued at their grandmother’s house in Largo, prompting the younger teen to threaten and point a gun at the older brother. Upon facing resistance from his older brother, an uncle intervened and took the 14-year-old outside where Baldwin was with her infant.
When Baldwin attempted to defuse the situation, her younger brother uttered offensive words, threatened to shoot her and her baby, and allegedly fired at her around 1:45 p.m. local time.
Baldwin’s baby, in a carrier, escaped harm. On the other hand, the 15-year-old brother allegedly shot the younger one in the stomach and ran off, throwing the gun in a nearby yard. He was later apprehended at a family member’s residence.
Baldwin suffered fatal wounds, with the bullet going through her left arm and chest, puncturing both lungs, causing internal bleeding, and eventually, her death.
The alleged shooter is in stable condition after surgery and has been charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, and possession of a firearm. His older brother faces charges of attempted murder and tampering with evidence. Both brothers have past arrests for car burglaries.