Student shot playing ‘assassins' game when man thinks toy gun is real, Florida cops say
A high school game known as 'Senior Assassins' turned all too real when a homeowner assumed the plastic guns wielded by students were real and started shooting, according to investigators in North Florida.
One student was hit, but is expected to recover, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office said in a Feb. 12 news release.
It happened around 6 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, outside a home on Purple Martin Drive in Yulee, about a 25-mile drive north from Jacksonville.
The shooter was 'an off-duty Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Agent' who lives in the neighborhood, officials said.
'The agent encountered what appeared to be three people prowling outside their residence in the dark,' the sheriff's office said.
'Immediately following the shooting, the off-duty agent began to administer first aid while they awaited the arrival of Nassau County Sheriff's Office. The student ... was transported to UF Health with non-life-threatening injuries.'
The student was hit in the arm.
Investigators say the students were participating in senior tradition that 'has drawn serious safety concerns from law enforcement officials.'
'The person shot was a Bishop Kenny (High School) student from Jacksonville participating in 'Senior Assassins,' a game where students 'tag' targets with water guns,' the sheriff's office said.
'In this case their target was a fellow Bishop Kenny student that lives in Nassau County.'
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said the water guns used by students can be easily mistaken for the real thing 'when it's pitch dark.'
'These types of games may seem innocent, but when you have young people sneaking around in the dark carrying objects that could be mistaken for weapons, you're creating a potentially deadly situation,' he said in a video posted on Facebook.
'This incident demonstrates exactly why parents need to take this seriously and speak to their kids about the dangers of these types of games. The next time this happens it could be someone's life.'
The state Department of Law Enforcement and the Office of the State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit have joined an investigation into the incident, the sheriff's office said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Florida ex-sheriff arrested for allegedly running illegal gambling house that generated millions
A former Florida sheriff has been charged with racketeering and conspiracy after an investigation into an illegal gambling operation. Ex-Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was arrested Thursday on first-degree felony charges over accusations he pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars and used campaign contributions to keep the alleged gambling operation afloat. "As law enforcement, we are held to higher standards of integrity and character than other professions," Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said in a statement. "This case revealed that Lopez violated the trust and integrity expected of him as the duly elected sheriff of Osceola County." Nba Player Investigated For Allegedly Manipulating His Playing Performance To Aid Illegal Gambling Scheme Fox News Digital has reached out to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office for comment. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Lopez after his arrest and appointed a Florida Highway Patrol officer, Christopher Blackmon, as interim sheriff. Lopez was elected in November 2020. Read On The Fox News App Lopez pleaded not guilty Friday to the charges, and he was given a $1 million bond, according to Fox 35. San Bernardino Sheriff's Deputy Arrested On Felony Weapons Charges, Accused Of Ties To Outlaw Biker Gang Prosecutors alleged Friday that Lopez took in as much as $700,000 while operating the illegal business, which included slot machines, a lottery and a "gambling house" out of a business called the Fusion Social Club in Kissimmee. Lopez remained in custody as of Friday afternoon, and he is next expected in court June 30. The illegal gambling operation allegedly generated more than $21.6 million over the years. In addition to Lopez, four others — Ying Zhang, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt and Carol Cote — face the same racketeering and conspiracy charges. Osceola County is not implicated in the investigation. The Associated Press contributed to this article source: Florida ex-sheriff arrested for allegedly running illegal gambling house that generated millions
USA Today
3 days ago
- USA Today
Florida sheriff charged with racketeering in illegal gambling, corruption probe
Florida sheriff charged with racketeering in illegal gambling, corruption probe Show Caption Hide Caption Ex-Arkansas police chief imprisoned for murder escapes prison Grant Hardin, a former Gateway, Arkansas, police chief serving time for murder and rape, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on May 25. unbranded - Newsworthy A sheriff in central Florida was arrested and charged in connection with an alleged massive gambling operation and public corruption scheme that generated more than $21 million in profits, authorities announced on June 5. Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was charged with one count of racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's office said in a statement. Online inmate records showed that Lopez was booked into a jail in nearby Lake County, Florida, on the morning of June 5. He is being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 30, according to inmate records. It is unclear if Lopez has an attorney. Uthmeier's office noted that the investigation remains ongoing and other charges may be announced at a later date. Lopez allegedly initially participated in the operation for personal payouts and campaign contributions before later using his position to "shield the enterprise from law enforcement," according to Uthmeier's office. Lopez was elected sheriff in 2020 and re-elected in 2024. Following his arrest, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order suspending Lopez from his position. The governor appointed Christopher Blackmon, the central region chief for the Florida Highway Patrol, as the county's sheriff. Osceola County Manager Don Fisher said in a statement that the county had no role in the investigation as the sheriff is a separate constitutional officer and apart from the county or the county commission. He added that county officials were prepared to support Blackmon as the interim sheriff. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on June 5. "As law enforcement, we are held to higher standards of integrity and character than other professions. This case revealed that Lopez violated the trust and integrity expected of him as the duly elected sheriff of Osceola County," Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said in a statement. "Florida's sheriffs are leaders for not only their office and deputies, but for their community and the citizens that elected them." Why is it so hard to find him? 'Devil in the Ozarks' killer remains a fugitive. 'Multifaceted role in expanding and protecting this illegal enterprise' Uthmeier's office accused Lopez of playing a "multifaceted role in expanding and protecting this illegal enterprise." Prosecutors said the alleged criminal organization was uncovered in 2023 in a multi-agency investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the support of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The investigation revealed that the organization was operating an illegal gambling enterprise in central Florida, particularly in Lake and Osceola Counties, according to prosecutors. The operation allegedly generated more than $21.6 million in illicit proceeds. Following his election as sheriff in November 2020, prosecutors said Lopez "continued to advance the interests" of the organization and collected a portion of the gambling proceeds for his involvement. Four people whom Uthmeier described as the sheriff's associates were also charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, according to state charging documents. The four were identified as Ying Zhang, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt, and Carol Cote. The charging documents state that the operation started in at least 2019 and continued until at least 2024. Beginning around June 2022, Lopez and his four associates owned or managed a "gambling house" out of a business known as Fusion Social Club or Eclipse Social Club, according to the charging documents. The business, which conducted a lottery and possessed a slot machine, was located in Kissimmee in central Florida's Osceola County, just south of Orlando, the charging documents stated. In a social media post on June 5, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security shared a video showing HSI agents arresting Lopez. "Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, no one is above the law — including public officials," the department said in the post. Prosecutors said other arrest warrants are expected to be served in the coming days. Inmate records showed that Fedrick and Cote were booked into Lake County Jail on the afternoon and night of June 5. The two were also being held without bond and are expected to appear in court on June 30. Death, a 'criminal enterprise': How an entire police department was put on leave Latest investigation involving Osceola County Sheriff's Office Lopez, who was born in Chicago and grew up in central Florida, was first elected as sheriff in 2020, according to his biography on the Osceola County Sheriff's Office website. He was sworn in on January 5, 2021, and became the first Hispanic sheriff in the county and state. Lopez joined the sheriff's office in 2003 while he was serving in the Navy Reserve, the website stated. He previously served 22 years in the U.S. military and received multiple awards and accolades throughout his career, according to the website. Lopez and the Osceola County Sheriff's Office have been involved in other investigations in recent years. In December 2024, Lopez pleaded no contest to a civil infraction and agreed to pay a $250 fine for posting a photo of a dead body on his personal Instagram page, FOX 35 Orlando and WFTV reported. The image was of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, who disappeared in February 2024 from her home in Kissimmee. Her body was found days later, and the boyfriend of the girl's mother was charged with her death. Lopez and the sheriff's office also came under scrutiny in 2022 after a 20-year-old was shot and killed by deputies, according to local television station WESH. Authorities said the 20-year-old and the group he was with were accused of stealing pizza and Pokémon cards from a Target store in Kissimmee, WESH reported. A grand jury declined to file charges in the case, according to WESH, but criticized the sheriff's office for its handling of the incident. The grand jury recommended policy and procedure changes for shootings involving law enforcement, WESH reported. "Our conclusion bluntly is that this should not have happened," the grand jury report states, according to Central Florida Public Media. "Our findings uncovered grave concerns about whether the appropriate amount of force was used to apprehend misdemeanor shoplifters and how insufficient training around vehicle blocks and lack of communication needlessly created circumstances where a deputy was faced with death or great bodily harm."
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Former Hialeah Police Chief Sergio Velazquez pleads not guilty to fraud, grand theft charges
One day after being arrested for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funds, former Hialeah Police Chief Sergio Velazquez appeared in court where he entered a plea of not guilty. Velazquez, 62, is charged with structuring, grand theft and an organized scheme to defraud. During a hearing Tuesday morning, Velazquez's attorney entered the plea on his client's behalf and requested a trial by jury. Miami-Dade County Judge Mindy Glazer, who found probable cause for the charges, set bond at $30 thousand. An official arraignment will take place in 21 days. Velazquez served as police chief from 2012 until his suspension in 2021. Police chief's alleged spending spree His arrest followed a complaint from the current police chief, who discovered discrepancies involving seized funds and petty cash stored in the department's safe, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement which conducted an investigation. FDLE agents allege that between 2015 and 2021, Velazquez made more than 900 cash deposits across multiple personal bank accounts, all under $10,000, amounts structured to avoid federal reporting requirements. The funds allegedly came from sources intended for confidential police operations and court-ordered forfeitures. The FDLE's probe revealed that during the final five months of Velazquez's tenure—from May to October 2021—about $560,000 in department funds were unaccounted for. Financial records reviewed in the investigation show Velazquez made over $300,000 in purchases from Rolex, along with additional luxury expenditures including $11,000 at Cartier, $6,700 at Louis Vuitton and $5,000 at Versace.
