VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A 13-year-old boy, one of two foster children accused of repeatedly shooting at Volusia County deputies back in June 2021, has entered a no contest plea deal Wednesday.
The boy, who was 12 at the time of the incident, was placed in a maximum risk program followed by conditional release.
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Volusia County Deputy Sergeant Don Maxwell, who was hiding behind the tree as the children were shooting at him, was also in court Wednesday morning and had a powerful message for the child.
“You have a big heart. You have a long life ahead of you,” he said. “I forgive you and I challenge you to be better because now I see you. Know that I do forgive you. I will say a prayer for you every day.”
The 12 (now 13) year old accused of breaking into an Enterprise house & then shooting at Volusia County deputies last June just entered a “no contest” plea this morning. He’s being placed in a maximum risk program followed by conditional release. @news6wkmg pic.twitter.com/b3xwZYqvLh
— Molly Reed (@Mollyreednews) March 23, 2022
The other juvenile involved in the shooting, a 15-year-old girl, then 14, was deemed competent to stand trial in November 2021 and faces charges as an adult.
Both children faced armed burglary and attempted murder charges, deputies said.
The 7th District State Attorney’s Office previously cleared the deputies involved in the shootout after they ended up wounding the girl who pointed a shotgun at them.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office released the full body camera video of the shooting a day after it happened. The video shows a sergeant hiding behind a tree to dodge shots fired by the pistol, shotgun and AK-47. Footage reveals that after multiple attempts to deescalate the situation, deputies shot the 14-year-old girl in the chest and arm.