Argument between stepfather and stepson ends with teen and his brother shot, police say

A family was left in tears Thursday after an argument between a stepfather and his 19-year-old stepson ended with the teen and his 12-year-old brother shot by their stepfather, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

The stepfather and the boys’ mother had only recently been married, some family said in shock before leaving the scene physically sickened by the news. Court records confirmed the couple wed on May 6 at St. Stephens AME in East Bradenton, not far from the home where the shooting occurred.

The 36-year-old stepfather identified himself as the shooter to police. No charges have been filed, however, as the shooting remains under investigation, according to police spokesman Lt. Brian Thiers.

According to detectives, the stepfather and his 19-year-old stepson had been arguing when the teen armed himself with a gun. So the older man then armed himself as well, he told police.

“The argument escalated, and the stepfather fired his weapon,” a statement from police said. “The shooting was directed at the 19-year-old, and the shooting of the 12-year-old appears to be accidental.”

Several people were inside the home in the 1900 block of Sixth Avenue East at the time of the shooting late Thursday morning. Bradenton police received the 911 call just before 11:30 a.m.

The teen, who was shot in the head and upper body, was taken to Blake Medical Center. The 12-year-old, who was shot in the lower body, was taken by ambulance to Manatee Memorial Hospital and later transferred to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.

Just after the ambulances pulled away with the victims, several women gathered at the scene were inconsolable as they cried hysterically.

Crowds gathered at the scene, but bystanders were unwilling to speak with the media and offered the police little information.

Crime scene technicians from the Bradenton Police Department and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office collected evidence outside the scene, and were awaiting a search warrant before proceeding back into the home and continuing their work into the evening. The sheriff's office set up its mobile command center nearby.

Bullet shell casings were discovered at the intersection of Sixth Avenue East and 19th Street East, but it is unknown if they are related or possibly from the Fourth of July holiday, Thiers said. Crime scene technicians collected them as a precaution.

Police are also working to determine if an unrelated 911 call received about a vehicle fleeing at high speed in southern Manatee County was connected to the shooting.

“We have not determined whether or not that vehicle is tied to this case, and we’re working in partnership with the Sarasota authorities to see if there is a relation between this case and that vehicle,” Thiers said.

Anyone with any information about the shooting can call the Bradenton Police Department at 941-932-9300 or Detective Fredy Ordonez at 941-932-9327.

This story was originally published July 6, 2017 at 11:39 AM with the headline "Argument between stepfather and stepson ends with teen and his brother shot, police say."