Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
- Crimes Against Children Unit

Brandon J. LaBoy (Arrested)
DOB: 05/18/2000
7949 50^th Avenue North, St. Petersburg
Charges: One count of Delinquent in Possession of Firearm, one count of Delinquent in Possession of Ammunition, one count of Culpable Negligence, and one count of Felony-Violation of Probation.

The victim is currently 17-years-of age. Per Florida Statute 119.071(2)(h)1 no further details will be released that would tend to identify the victim.

What:
Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested a 16-year-old boy, after he accidentally shot his friend in the ankle with a handgun, in unincorporated St. Petersburg.

When:
The incident occurred at about 11:40 a.m., on Saturday, December 17, 2016.

Where:
The incident occurred at a residence located at 7949 50^th Avenue North, in unincorporated St. Petersburg.

Why/How:
Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested a 16-year-old boy, after he accidentally shot his friend in the ankle with a handgun, in unincorporated St. Petersburg.

At about 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2016, deputies responded to a residence located at 7949 50^th Avenue North, in unincorporated St. Petersburg, after a 17-year-old male victim reported he was shot in the ankle.  

Detectives say that when deputies arrived, the victim claimed that he was walking near the intersection of 50^th Avenue and 80^th Street North, when an unidentified black male subject in a vehicle, drove by and shot him in the ankle. The victim claimed he walked to his friend’s house at 7949 50^th Avenue North, and his friend called 911. 

Paramedics responded to the scene and transported the victim to Bayfront Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives re-interviewed the victim at the hospital and determined that the victim was accidentally shot by his friend, 16-year-old Brandon LaBoy, at LaBoy’s residence.

Detectives interviewed LaBoy at the Sheriff’s Administration Building located at 10750 Ulmerton Road, in Largo. LaBoy initially denied any involvement, but later told detectives that he was showing the handgun to the victim when the gun accidentally discharged and shot the victim in the ankle.

Detectives recovered the .45 caliber handgun involved in the shooting from Laboy’s residence. Detectives also recovered a second handgun from LaBoy’s residence.

LaBoy was arrested and charged with one count of Delinquent in Possession of Firearm, one count of Delinquent in Possession of Ammunition, one count of Culpable Negligence, and one count of Felony-Violation of Probation.

Laboy was transported to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center without incident.

The investigation continues.

Brandon LaBoy booking photo