April 28 (UPI) — A 16-year-old male is in custody after shooting 10 people during an altercation at a venue near Sanford, Fla., early Sunday, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said.
Police responded to an event venue known as Cabana Live, prompted by a large gathering at the location, according to sheriff’s deputies.
Just after midnight, they heard gunshots coming from behind the building and upon investigating found the crowd had been dispersed by the gunshots but 10 people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting.
Police identified 16-year-old Christopher Bouie Jr., as the suspect and booked him into a juvenile detention center, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators said the event started as a verbal altercation but grew more hostile. Bouie’s arrest report said the teen was not originally involved in the skirmish but then “turned around and pulled out a black and silver handgun (9mm) and began shooting towards a crowd of people.”
Local news media opted to name Bouie, while a minor, due to the severity of the charges.
His arrest report said Bouie faces charges of “possession of a firearm by a minor, use and display of a firearm during a felony, firing a weapon on public property, and attempted homicide.”
The report said the officer who detained Bouie was able to do so almost immediately and quickly disarm him. Several of the people who were shot by Bouie have said they intend to press charges, according to the report.
Cabana Live responded on social media.
“As most of you have heard, there was an incident outside our establishment last night. We are cooperating with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and praying for all those involved,” a statement on the Cabana Live Facebook page said.
