Teen Pulled Gun On Spring Breakers At FL Beach: Volusia County Sheriff

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL — A 16-year-old who pulled a gun on a crowd of spring breakers was arrested Thursday afternoon at a Florida beach, authorities said.

The armed teen was confronted by deputies on New Smyrna Beach and taken into custody about five minutes after the incident, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post.

While the agency has released the suspect's name, it is Patch's policy not to identify those in the juvenile court system. It is not clear whether the suspect is being charged as an adult or juvenile.

Deputies patrolling the area of the beach just north of Flagler Avenue saw a crowd dispersing and heard people yelling, “He has a gun,” just before 4 p.m.

As deputies ran toward the scene, they saw the Lakeland teen wielding a handgun. They drew their firearms in response and moved toward the suspect while ordering them to drop the gun.

The boy, still holding the gun, ran through crowds of people on the beach before heading into the ocean and throwing the gun, as well as a bag he was carrying, into the water, the sheriff’s office said.

He eventually complied with commands, put his hands up and surrendered to deputies.

Deputies recovered both the gun and the bag, which held 20 small plastic baggies of marijuana, from the water.

He was charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a person under 18, improper exhibition of a firearm, commission of a second-degree felony with a weapon, resisting a law enforcement officer, two counts of tampering with evidence, and sale of marijuana.

In addition to his new charges, was also arrested on seven active no-bond warrants out of Orange County, including robbery with a firearm and violation of his probation.

He was taken to the Volusia Family Resource Center for processing before being brought to the Department of Juvenile Justice.