3 Kids Shooting Flare Gun Off FL Bridge Hit Boat, Set It On Fire

BRADENTON, FL — Three children were taken into custody after shooting flare guns off a bridge and hitting a boat at the Twin Dolphin Marina, causing it to catch fire on Monday, Bradenton police said in a news release.

Officers responded to a boat on fire at the marina around 1:30 p.m. Two people who called 911 said they saw three children fire something off the Green Bridge just before the fire.

The Bradenton Fire Department responded and quickly put out the blaze, which caused
significant damage to the 45-foot yacht.

Using the descriptions provided by witnesses, detectives quickly obtained CCTV video from city of Bradenton cameras along the Riverwalk. The video showed three juveniles with flare guns shortly before and after the fire started, police said.

They were identified and questioned with their parents’ cooperation.

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A 14-year-old boy was charged with first-degree arson, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a minor under 18, and discharging a firearm in public or on a residential property.

While the teen was named by police, it’s Patch policy not to name minors accused of a crime unless they’ve been charged as an adult. It’s unknown whether he has been charged as a juvenile or an adult.

An 11-year-old and a 12-year-old were each charged with possession of a firearm by a minor and discharging a firearm in public or on residential property.

They were booked into the Manatee Juvenile Detention Center.

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