ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Hearts are shattered after 16-year-old Kennedy Williams was stabbed to death.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested 15-year-old Anthony Rushing in connection to the case, accusing him of second-degree murder.
Williams was found lying on the ground Friday night near an Amscot on South Goldenrod Road, next to Astro Skate of Orlando.
A spokesperson for the skating rink said Friday they held a teen night event but couldn’t confirm whether these teens were there.
The spokesperson added that the stabbing didn’t happen on their property.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
That night, deputies were called to the area for a fight, which surrounding businesses said they saw unfold after teens left the skating rink.
Licensed therapist Cherlette McCullough said teens should be focusing on having fun during spring break, not being violent.
She thinks incidents like this can be prevented if there are chaperones when teens are getting together for an event.
She broke down why teens might carry out violent acts.
“Sometimes, the challenge is just having the ability to emotionally regulate when they are triggered, or they are upset about something,” McCullough said. “It could be because of trauma, it could be because of things that have happened in their homes.”
She emphasized that taking a life is never worth it acknowledging the impact it has on the community and family.
“The level of grief that the mom is feeling right now, I know it has to be excruciating pain,” she said.
McCullough said teens need to understand there is an alternative to violence.
“I think it’s so important that we do talk to our children candidly around conflict and how they handle conflict,” McCullough said.
Williams was a student at Pace Center for Girls, an academic space with trauma-informed staff and day-to-day counseling.
The executive director shared that their hearts are heavy and their thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.
The center will be providing grief counselors when they return from spring break.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: