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Police in St. Petersburg arrest 14-year-old boy who shot and killed his 11-year-old friend


Police in St. Petersburg arrest 14-year-old boy who shot and killed his 11-year-old friend

St. Petersburg police have arrested a 14-year-old boy for manslaughter. The boy is said to have shot his 11-year-old friend last week.

The teenager was arrested Monday in connection with the shooting death of Veondre Keyonce Hargrove on Thursday, St. Petersburg police said. The Tampa Bay Times is not naming the 14-year-old because he is too old and it is not yet known whether he will be charged as an adult.

According to the teen’s arrest report, Hargove was visiting a friend at his home in the 4200 block of 11th Avenue South in Childs Park. The 14-year-old boy arrived shortly after Hargrove.

Hargrove and the 14-year-old boy were sitting on a couch in the living room around 9:40 p.m. when the older boy pulled out a gun, the report said. The friend, who lived at the house, was also in the room.

“A conversation was overheard regarding an e-cigarette (vape pen) that was unknowingly stolen from the suspect by the victim,” the report said.

The friend who lived in the house told the 14-year-old boy to put the gun away, but he didn’t, the report said. A single shot rang out and Hargrove was struck by the bullet and collapsed on the floor.

The suspect fled the house after the shooting. Police found a gun left in the house.

According to the report, the boy arrested is a student at Azalea Middle School.

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