ORLANDO, Fla. – Nearly a year after a shooting that killed a 15-year-old Jones High School student, Orlando police said they have arrested a 14-year-old boy who has confessed.
Police said the 14-year-old shot and killed Corey Jones on Jan. 22.
[TRENDING: Driver killed in West Melbourne fireworks store inferno was on way to pick up his children, FHP says | 62-year-old Capitol riot suspect arrested again in Volusia County | Become a News 6 Insider]
The shooting happened in the 800 block of Grand St., near Grand Avenue Park.
Jones was taken to a hospital after the shooting, where he was pronounced dead, according to a police department spokesperson.
“The kids came up and told me (Corey) got shot. I ran down there and he was laying there, and there was nothing I could do,” John Keedy, the victim’s stepfather, said to News 6 in January. “It’s hard. No parent should ever have to bury their child. No parent.”
Now, Keedy told News 6 that he still has so many questions about what drove the 14-year-old to shoot his stepson — but he wants to see justice.
“If you’re man or woman enough to hold a gun and pull the trigger, you’re man or woman enough to be held reliable for what you’ve done,” Keedy said.
He said Jones loved the outdoors and had dreams of serving his country by becoming either a firefighter or joining the Armed Forces.
Keedy added that he’d never seen the 14-year-old shooter before the incident.
Police have not said how they determined the accused shooter’s identity. They also did not say what led up to the shooting or whether the boys knew each other.
The 14-year-old faces a charge of second-degree murder with a firearm.
News 6 has reached out to Orlando police for more information on the arrest. This story will be updated when we learn more.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: