The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s Sheriff, Bob Gualtieri, announced the arrest of two kids following a domestic quarrel that led to the terrible death of a young mother and the arrest of two adolescents.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office reports that Abrielle Baldwin, 23, was shot and killed by her 14-year-old brother after they got into a fight about the “inequality” of the gifts that were ordered for Christmas.
Deputies responded to a distress call at a family home on Christmas Eve to find a bleak scene. Abrielle Baldwin, 23, was shot while holding her 11-month-old child.
Damarcus Coley, her 14-year-old brother, was also found with a gunshot wound.
The press announcement states that medical professionals attended to both siblings promptly; unfortunately, after being admitted to the hospital, Coley remained stable and Baldwin passed away from her wounds.
The sheriff’s office clarified the activities leading up to the shooting. According to the authorities, Abrielle Baldwin went Christmas shopping with her mother, “Joyce,” and her siblings, Darcus Coley (15) and Damarcus Coley (14) on December Eve. Her two sons, ages 11 months and 6 years, were also present.
The day turned darker when they returned to their grandmother’s home, and a verbal dispute erupted among them over the gifts.
Authorities claim that when the 14-year-old Damarcus threatened to shoot his brother when they were at his grandmother’s house, things got out of hand.
Uncle to the boys intervened and took them apart in an attempt to diffuse the tension. It is then said that Damarcus stepped outside the home. Abrielle, his sister, tried to diffuse the tension by asking them to put their disagreement aside—especially since it was Christmas.
But when Abrielle, wearing her 11-month-old child in a baby carrier, argued with Damarcus, things erupted once more. In the spirit of the holidays, she begged Damarcus to end their argument, but the exchange turned tragic.
Enraged, Damarcus vowed to shoot Abrielle and the baby she was carrying. He followed through on his promise in a terrifying moment, shooting Abrielle in the chest as she was still holding her small child.
The 15-year-old brother, Darcus, came out of the house with another gun during the mayhem that followed. He shot Damarcus because of the attack on Abrielle. Darcus then quickly left the area, leaving his gun in a backyard nearby.
Due to self-harm remarks, Darcus was tracked down and admitted to a mental health center after getting in touch with his mother. After being released from the facility, it is anticipated that he will be placed under the supervision of the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center.
Damarcus was accused of first-degree murder, abusing children, and being a delinquent who possessed a firearm. Darcus was charged with tampering with physical evidence and attempted first-degree murder.
You can watch the press conference below: