Teen Boy Charged With Manslaughter In Newsome Student's Shooting

LITHIA, FL — Following a decision by the State Attorney's Office Friday morning, a 15-year-old has been arrested and charged with manslaughter with a firearm, a first-degree felony, for the fatal shooting of teenager at a home in FishHawk Ranch Dec. 13.

Alongside his attorney and parents, the teen turned himself into the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Friday afternoon. He has been transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

Editor's Note: Although the sheriff's office has released the name of the teen who was arrested, Patch does not print the names of juveniles arrested for crimes unless they've been charged as adults. At this time, the State Attorney's Office hasn't said whether the teen will be charged as an adult or juvenile.

See related stories:

Teen Fatally Shot In FishHawk Home Of Tampa Police Officer

After Fatal Shooting, Newsome Students Say They Don't Feel Safe

Sheriff Submits Evidence From Teen's Shooting To State Attorney

Fatal Shooting In Cop's Home Accidental, Attorney Says: Report

In a statement, State Attorney Andrew Warren said the teen did not know the gun was loaded and didn't mean to shoot Bradley Hulett but said the teen's "lack of intent or malice does not foreclose that a crime occurred.”

“The evidence clearly establishes that this was a tragic accident where all the boys mistakenly believed that the gun was not loaded,” Warren said. “In this matter, the shooter pointed the gun in the direction of the victim and pulled the trigger without knowing — and, therefore, under the law, without caring — whether it was loaded. In Florida, an unintentional killing resulting from the reckless disregard for the safety of another person constitutes manslaughter."

The shooting took place after school in the FishHawk Ranch home of a Tampa Police officer with the officer's gun. Warren said the police officer will not be charged because there is insufficient evidence to show he violated the state’s safe storage law.

“The gun was not locked in a safe or fitted with a trigger lock, and the master bedroom door could be unlocked relatively easily,” Warren said in the statement. “Therefore, it was certainly possible and foreseeable that the son could obtain the gun, and the father’s belief that the gun was secure was arguably mistaken and ill-advised. Under Florida law, however, that is insufficient to establish a violation of the safe storage law.”

Nevertheless, the police officer had no reason to think his son would access the gun, said Warren.

"The evidence establishes the homeowner’s son was not permitted in his father’s bedroom; the father had specifically told him not to enter the master bedroom; the door was locked; and the gun was in a safety holster," Warren said. "Additionally, there is no evidence to suggest that the father should have had any concerns about his son accessing the gun, such as general disobedience or prior instances where the son obtained the gun without permission."

Four Newsome High School teens, ages 15 and 16, were in the home at the time of the shooting. According to Warren, the son of the Tampa Police officer used a paperclip to unlock the master bedroom, so he could use the bathroom because another boys was using the only other bathroom in the home.

Shortly after, the police officer's son and two other boys went back into the master bedroom to find a toilet plunger to fix a clog in the other bathroom.

While in the master bedroom, the boys noticed the father’s gun, which was in a safety holster, sitting on a small table. There was no magazine in the gun, although there was a single round in the chamber, said Warren. The boy who lived at the house mistakenly believed the gun to be unloaded and engaged the safety release to remove it from the holster. He took the gun out of his father’s room and, along with the two other boys, returned to his bedroom, where Hulett was sitting at a desk playing video games.

"Then, while all four teens were in the boy’s bedroom, one of the friends took the gun from the boy who lived in the house," said Warren. "That friend, also mistakenly believing the gun to be unloaded, pulled the trigger, firing the single round and striking the victim in the back of the head. The other three boys immediately called 911 and attempted to provide medical assistance to their friend."

In his statement, Warren addressed the reason it took more than two months to reach a decision.

"The unimaginable loss of their child has left the victim’s family and our community grieving and asking questions," he said. "As the investigation has proceeded, those unanswered questions have led to certain speculation and frustration. Although we understand the public’s desire for quick answers, our office’s commitment to a thorough and objective search for the truth is unwavering. The victim’s family and our entire community deserve nothing less."

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister released the following statement regarding Warren's decision to charge the teen:

“We are aware of the State Attorney’s decision regarding criminal charges in the FishHawk shooting investigating involving the death of a 15-year-old child.

My heart breaks for the family of the young man who tragically lost his life.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office remains steadfast in our commitment to safe gun storage and public safety so that a tragic death like this is prevented. We believe, as stated before, anyone handling a firearm should always behave with the presumption that the firearm is loaded. Responsible gun owners should secure their weapons beyond the reach of anyone, especially children and teenagers. No parent or responsible gun owner wants another life to be senselessly lost because of carelessness.

If the law, as written and as reflected in the State Attorney’s decision, prevents criminal accountability, we should all advocate to change it.

While the statute as written and the lawyers who interpret it may not differentiate criminal responsibility based on familiarity with guns, as law enforcement officers, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard in order to prevent such tragic consequences, and ultimately, we must answer to a higher authority when asked why we didn’t do more. Our kids deserve better.”