Hillsborough Sheriff Releases Video Of Riverview Teen's Arrest

EDITOR'S NOTE: Patch's policy is not to reveal the identity of a juvenile arrested for a crime unless he is being adjudicated as an adult. As a result, Patch is not posting the video of the deputies negotiating with and arresting the teen involved in Saturday's fatal shooting in Riverview. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has chosen to release the body-worn camera video on its website.

RIVERVIEW, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has released the deputies' body-worn video camera footage showing the tense moments when deputies faced down a 14-year-old boy who shot two people in Riverview Saturday afternoon and then threatened to shoot himself when deputies confronted him.

Deputies responded to reports of a shooting in the 11000 block of Lynmoor Drive in Riverview. Simultaneously, HCSO dispatchers received several calls reporting a boy running through the Summerfield subdivision armed with a handgun.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they encountered the boy who repeatedly placed the gun to his head and threatened to shoot himself. Deputies used de-escalation methods to convince the boy to give up his gun.

"The deputies who negotiated with this suspect for more than 16 minutes were calm, collected and ultimately successful in convincing him to lower his weapon," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "They used their remarkable intuition and expertise to determine this suspect was not looking to harm them, but was contemplating suicide."

After constant and clear commands from deputies, the boy lowered his firearm but attempted to retrieve it again. At that point, deputies deployed a nonlethal round, striking the boy in the hand with a 40 mm launcher to gain compliance and safely get the boy into custody.

"It is incredible to see the deputies in this video remain calm, build a rapport with the young suspect and talk him down from hurting himself or anyone else," said Chronister. "This is a testament to the deputies' training and knowledge and use of the de-escalation tools they've been given. They work, and they save lives."

While deputies worked to de-escalate the situation with the teen, additional units responded to the report of a man who was shot several times in the Summerfield subdivision and then fled to a neighbor's home for help.

Deputies were able to get the victim to Emergency Medical Services personnel and he was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The sheriff's office said he's now in stable condition.

As deputies took the teen shooter into custody, they discovered a woman dead on a driveway just down the street. Deputies later discovered that she was related to the teen.

The teen is facing felony charges of murder in the second degree with a weapon, premeditated attempted murder in the first degree with a firearm and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

"This scene is one of nightmares and absolute heartbreak," Chronister said. "This family's life is forever changed. A victim's life was taken and, because of his actions, the suspect's life as he knows it is over. He will never see the outside of a detention facility for his crimes."

The sheriff's office encourages anyone who feels they are a victim or a potential victim of domestic violence to contact The Spring of Tampa Bay at 813-248-7233. The Spring provides safe spaces and empowering services to survivors of domestic violence and their children.

There's also help for those contemplating hurting others or themselves by dialing 988. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay hotline is open 24/7.