Woman shot dead by younger brother in row over Christmas presents, Florida police say
A 23-year-old woman was shot dead on Christmas Eve after an argument with her brothers about presents, police in Florida have said.
Two teenage brothers have been arrested, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Abrielle Baldwin was shot in the chest by her 14-year-old brother while she was holding her baby in a carrier, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said in a news conference.
The shooting happened after the three siblings went Christmas shopping with their mother and Ms Baldwin’s two sons.
They then went to their grandmother’s house, where they were “involved in a verbal altercation over Christmas gifts”, the sheriff said.
“They had this family spat about who was getting what and what money was being spent on who,” he said.
Ms Baldwin tried to get the two brothers to stop arguing by saying “it’s Christmas”, Sheriff Gualtieri said.
The 14-year-old threatened to shoot his sister “and shoot the baby too” before he fired the gun, the sheriff said.
She fell to the ground but the 11-month-old was not hurt because it was in a carrier, he said.
The 14-year-old was then shot by his 15-year-old brother, who tossed the gun away and fled, the sheriff said.
The younger brother is in a stable condition in hospital, but Ms Baldwin was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The 15-year-old was taken to mental health facility due to self-harm statements and will be moved later to a juvenile centre.
He was charged with attempted murder and tampering with evidence.
The 14-year-old was charged with murder, child abuse and possessing a firearm.
Sheriff Gualtieri said young people were getting guns by buying them on the street after they had been stolen, or through car burglaries.