ORLANDO, Fla. – A 14-year-old boy was arrested in Orlando after being accused of shooting and killing a man over a drug deal gone wrong, according to officials from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Mar'quez Javon McFarland was taken into custody at Southwest Middle School in Orlando on Thursday. Deputies said the boy is a suspect in the Feb. 10 shooting death of Timothy Allen West, 39.
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The shooting occured in Mascotte. Deputies said McFarland used to live in Leesburg.
McFarland was arrested by the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force and the Orange County Sheriff's Office Juvenile Arrest Unit. He has since been turned over to the Division of Juvenile Justice.
In a phone message, Southwest Middle School Principal Chuck Yockel assured parents that students are not in any danger.
"The safety and security of our students and staff is a top priority," Yockel said. "The student is no longer on campus and we will follow the code of student conduct."
Still, parents were worried their children, some as young as 11 years old, roaming the same hallways a student accused of murder.
"It's scary, I tell you. We are having this conversation and I'm shocked," said one parent who didn't want to be named.
"That's very scary, and hopefully this sort of thing doesn't happen and become commonplace, even though this is the day and age we live in," parent Moneshia Jones said.
A Lake County Sheriff's spokesperson said McFarland will most likely be tried as an adult. He's currently in the Orange County Juvenile Detention Center. He's been charged with first degree murder and attempted first degree murder.
Authorities said the investigation is still active and ongoing.
This is a developing story. Stay with News 6/ClickOrlando.com for updates.