2 Suspects Arrested In Lakeland For Shooting Boy: Police

LAKELAND, FL — Police arrested two Lakeland suspects on Wednesday for shooting a 15-year-old Lake Wales boy during a drug sale, authorities said.

Marshall Hayes, 20, and Bellamia Sperandio, 18, have multiple charges by the Polk County Sheriff's Office after being arrested for the June 23 shooting, a news release said.

Police said the victim had been shot twice by Hayes after a fight occurred as Sperandio sold the boy eight grams of marijuana. During the investigation, deputies identified Bellamia as the suspect as they found that a Snapchat user by the name of BellaMia0314 communicated with the child about selling him marijuana.

On the day of the shooting, Sperandio's boyfriend, Hayes drove her to the victim's neighborhood in Lake Wales. According to detectives, the handgun used to shoot the victim was found along the route that the suspects sped on after the shooting. Pictures of the suspect vehicle was taken by nearby surveillance systems.

Officials found the suspect vehicle parked in the driveway at Sperandio's home on South New York Avenue in Lakeland, and arrested her and Hayes. Police said Sperandio admitted to talking to the minor about selling him drugs, and Hayes admitted to shooting the boy during the drug sale.

The victim was airlifted to a hospital where he is in stable condition.

The victim's identity will not be released due to Marsy's law, and because he is a minor.

"There are still people out there calling the possession and sale of marijuana a low-level, non-violent crime," said Sheriff Grady Judd in a news release. "Tell that to this 15-year-old child's mother. He is lucky to be alive. Hopefully he will fully recover, and the suspects who shot him will go to prison."

Charges for Hayes include:

• Discharging a firearm from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of a person.
• Tampering with evidence.
• Conspiracy to sell marijuana.

Polk County Sheriff's Office said Sperandio is charged with:

• Active warrant she had for threats to inflict serious bodily harm on a law enforcement officer.
• Accessory after the fact of a felony.
• Conspiracy to sell marijuana.
• Tampering with evidence.
• Resisting arrest.

Her criminal history includes prior arrests for battery on law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, battery, threats to harm a law enforcement officer, failure to appear and probation violation.