Florida runaways, 14 and 12, captured after shootout with sheriff’s deputies

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) --

Authorities say a 12-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl ran away from a juvenile home Tuesday evening, broke into a house, and fired guns they found inside at responding sheriff's deputies. The girl was shot by deputies before both suspects were taken into custody.

Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of two juveniles -- a 14-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy -- who had run away from the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise at about 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The 14-year-old allegedly hit a staff member at the home with a stick. The diabetic 12-year-old did not have his medication with him, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies searching the area encountered a witness who reported hearing glass break at a residence, at 1050 Enterprise Osteen Road, less than 2 miles east of the children’s group home.

Deputies saw two figures in the house, the sheriff’s office said, and contacted the homeowner, who said no one was supposed to be inside. The homeowner also advised deputies there was a handgun, a shotgun, and an AK-47 assault rifle inside, with a large amount of ammunition.

Deputies surrounded the house and made announcements into the house. The juveniles then began shooting, the sheriff’s office said.

The 14-year-old fired at a sheriff’s sergeant from a back patio door around 8:30 p.m., the sheriff’s office said.

The juveniles allegedly fired at deputies four separate times during the course of 35 minutes. No deputies were injured.

The 14-year-old girl then emerged from the garage and pointed a shotgun at deputies outside, the sheriff’s office said, and the girl was subsequently shot and wounded.

The 12-year-old boy, who was in the garage with the AK-47, surrendered without firing another shot, deputies said. He was not injured.

YouTube: **GRAPHIC VIDEO** Deputy Involved Shooting: 6/1/21 - Volusia Sheriff's Office

The girl was treated on scene before she was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. After undergoing surgery, she was listed in stable condition, the sheriff’s office said.

The two juveniles are facing charges of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and armed burglary, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said.

The sheriff's office later released body camera footage of the shootout.

According to WKMG-TV, the 14-year-old girl was shot in the chest and arm.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said his deputies tried not to escalate the situation and "took multiple rounds" before firing at the 14-year-old.

Chitwood said the juveniles were "coming out to kill cops."

"The 14-year-old comes out of the garage with a pump shotgun, levels it at deputies and despite warnings to drop it, she walked back into the garage, she comes back a second time, and that’s when deputies opened fire after taking multiple rounds," Chitwood said.

Chitwood said the juveniles had seen the family whose home they broke into leave, and had used a crowbar and rocks to break in.

According to WKMG, the 14-year-old was arrested in 2018 for stealing puppies and allegedly set multiple fires when she was at another facility in Flagler County. She set five fires in a wooded lot last April, Chitwood said, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The 12-year-old has reportedly been in foster care since 2016. In April, WKMG reports, he allegedly threatened "to kill a student and spread his guts all over the bleachers."

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