VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A 14-year-old girl who is one of two juvenile runaways accused of firing at Volusia County deputies with guns found inside a home they broke into was found competent to stand trial.
A hearing took place Wednesday afternoon where a judge ruled she is competent to stand trial for charges she is facing as an adult for the June shootout with deputies.
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The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a girl and boy who ran away from Florida United Methodist Children’s Home, a group home for foster children. According to the sheriff’s office, a 12-year-old boy and the 14-year-old girl broke into a home in Enterprise and used guns found inside — including an AK-47 — to fire at deputies for about 30 minutes.
Deputies said the children also used baseball bats to destroy furniture, toilets and a tub inside the home.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said during an update after the shootout that deputies tried to deescalate the situation and stepped into the line of fire to throw a cellphone into the house in hopes of ending things peacefully.
Shortly after, the sheriff’s office released body camera video that showed a sergeant hiding behind a tree as the two fired at him with a pistol, shotgun and an AK-47. The video includes aerial footage of the moment deputies shot a 14-year-old girl as she reportedly walked out of the garage of a home on Enterprise Osteen Road with a shotgun in her hand, leveling it at deputies.
State Attorney from the 7th Judicial Circuit R.J. Larizza announced after the standoff the 14-year-old girl will face charges as an adult, while the 12-year-old will face charges as a juvenile.
Both face charges of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, burglary of a dwelling while armed with a firearm and felony criminal mischief.