Teen Murder Suspect Charged In DeSoto County Fair Shooting: Police

DESOTO COUNTY, FL — A 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged in Saturday night’s fatal shooting of another teenager at the DeSoto County Fair, according to an Arcadia Police Department news release.

Ryan Watson, Jr. was taken into custody Wednesday and charged with murder, the agency said.

The teen is being charged as an adult, the department told Patch.

• Also Read: 17-Year-Old Killed In Shooting At DeSoto County Fair: Arcadia Police

The victim, Danny Rodriguez Lopez, was shot to death after a fight broke out at the annual community event, Lt. Troy Carrillo told Patch. He didn’t say whether Lopez was involved in the fight.

“The Rodriguez-Lopez family remains in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time of losing their loved one,” the department said.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. Carrillo at 863-494-2222.

The DeSoto County Fair closed its midway on Sunday and Monday, only hosting its livestock grooming contest and the Jr. Miss DeSoto pageant, both closed to the public, Sunday evening.

The fair, which kicked off Feb. 3 and runs through Saturday, reopened its midway Tuesday at 5 p.m. “in hopes of being able to provide some positivity to our community,” the DeSoto County Fair Association said in a statement shared on its Facebook page.

Each night before the livestock show begins, the fair will honor Rodriguez Lopez with a moment of silence.

“We would first like to give our sincere condolences to the Rodriguez-Lopez family and our hearts go out to them during this difficult time. As an organization that prides ourselves on providing fun entertainment and opportunity to our youth and our community, we are extremely saddened by this event,” the association said.