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13-year-old charged in Curtis Hixon Park shooting
Josh Cascio reports.
TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa police said a 13-year-old was the one who shot another teenager over the weekend in Curtis Hixon Park.
Police announced the arrest Thursday morning. The shooting occurred around 8:45 p.m. on Sunday near the popular Winter Village area of the downtown park.
According to investigators, the shooting happened after an argument quickly turned physical.
"During the one-on-one fight, approximately 5-6 additional teens jumped in to assist the would-be shooter in striking and kicking the victim," according to a news release from the police department.
That's when the 13-year-old boy drew the weapon and fired one round at the 16-year-old, striking him in the upper body, officials added. The night of the shooting, Alicia Randall, the victim's mom, got a phone call no mother should ever hear.
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"All I hear is my son screaming ‘I’m shot, I'm shot.'" Randall described. "I'm like ‘where you at?’"
Her son, 16-year-old Mario Jackson, had been shot in the chest. He was rushed to the hospital and ultimately survived his injuries.
"It is devastating. I just want these kids to leave the guns alone, put the guns down," Randall said.
Witnesses identified the 13-year-old as the shooting suspect during the investigation, and he was found at his family's apartment. He was taken into custody by officers Wednesday night.
"To make a decision like this that teen, that suspect made that decision, and their life is going to be changed forever," said Interim Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. "There's 1,000 of us and 400,000 community members in Tampa, and we need everybody's help and part of that identifying guns and guns that aren’t secured – call us."
Because of his age, we're withholding his name and photo, but the 13-year-old arrested is facing a felony charge of aggravated battery with great bodily harm. Police said they are still trying to determine where and how the teen obtained the gun.
For Randall, her focus remains on her son and his recovery in the hospital. The teen suspects arrest is an answered prayer, she said.
"Thank God that he's off the street. Thank God - thank you," she said.