15-year-old arrested in Georgia after killing man at Palm Coast late-night occasion, sheriff says – WFTV

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Flagler County lawmakers arrested a 15-year-old over a fatal shooting during a party.

READ: Late Night Party Turns Deadly; A teenager has been shot dead in central Florida, according to deputies

Deputies said the teenager shot and killed Jamey “JuJu” Bennett near Old Kings Highway on February 5.

Lawmakers arrested 15-year-old Da’Mari Barnes in Georgia after a 20-day investigation and charged him with manslaughter.

Prosecutors are still deciding whether to charge the youth as an adult.

MPs said Barnes fatally shot the 19-year-old Palm Coast man after an altercation at a late-night party in a wooded area near Matanzas Woods Parkway in Palm Coast.

READ: Central Florida woman accused of stealing elderly in Flagler County, lawmakers say

Reports of the shooting came in around 2 a.m. and first responders determined that Bennett had been shot in the upper left side of his chest.

Paramedics rushed Bennett to Advent Health-Palm Coast, where he died from his injuries.

During the investigation, detectives learned that a fight had broken out at the party after Bennett reportedly tried to intervene in an argument Barnes was having with other people at the party.

Deputies said Barnes then pulled out a concealed firearm and shot Bennett.

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“This was a difficult case because many witnesses did not show up immediately and investigators had to use every investigative tool at their disposal to solve this case,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. “A young man saw his life end unexpectedly, and it happened at the hands of an even younger shooter. This was a 15 year old trying to be a macho with a gun. Parents, teach your kids that it takes a bigger man to run away from an argument than a punk with a gun. We hope this arrest will help JuJu’s family seek justice for their son.”

Barnes surrendered to Georgia law enforcement Wednesday after family members in Flagler County convinced him to turn himself in.

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