Several Burglaries Solved After Teen Accidentally Shoots Himself: PCSO

LAKELAND, FL — Polk County detectives said they were able to solve six recent car burglaries in the Medulla area of Lakeland after a 14-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the arm with a gun stolen from a burglary victim’s car.

Authorities said the teen was taken to a Tampa hospital with an injury to his left forearm. He is expected to be OK.

He was charged with armed burglary, burglary of conveyance, grand theft of a firearm, conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit theft, possession of a firearm by a juvenile, possession of personal identification and petit theft.

Two other teens, a 16-year-old and 14-year-old — both from Lakeland — have been charged with the same crimes.

Deputies said six car burglaries occurred early Tuesday morning in the Cherry Lane Estates neighborhood.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, deputies said they responded to a home in the Medulla Oaks neighborhood, just off of Old Road 37 after an accidental shooting was reported.

While investigating the shooting, the two uninjured teens said they were asleep when their friend accidentally shot himself with a gun they “found," deputies said.

Deputies said the boys initially denied knowing where the gun was after the shooting.

During a search of the boy’s room, a detective noticed a woman’s Michael Kors wallet with a woman’s identification card inside, and next to the wallet was a debit card that belonged to another woman. An ammunition magazine was found behind the headboard of the bed, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies said these items were reported stolen during the burglaries at Cherry Lane Estates, adjacent to the Medulla Oaks neighborhood.

After confronting the boys with the evidence, deputies said they admitted to the burglaries, and they told detectives where two stolen handguns were hidden near some woods.

The sheriff's office reminds residents to keep their valuables in their cars out of public sight and keep their doors locked at all times.

“It is clearly true that thieves are responsible for stealing from hard-working citizens. But that does not mean that we should make it easy for thieves to steal from us. Please, lock your vehicles and make sure that firearms are kept in secure locations at all times. Fortunately, the young man who stole these guns should have a full recovery from his injuries, and hopefully, everyone involved has learned some valuable lessons here," Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Two of the teens were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center in Bartow and charged. Deputies say the 14-year-old boy who shot himself will be transported to JAC following his release from the hospital.