A 20-year old man and a juvenile, 17, were arrested after Cocoa police detectives said they shot a teen in the head on July 10.
The wounded teen, also 17, was rushed to Cape Canaveral Hospital by a guardian, where he was alert and recovering, police reported.
The shooting happened at about 9 p.m. July 10 in Sunrise Village.
Witnesses told police that two people, Gavin Neal, 20, and a 17-year-old — whose name is not being released by FLORIDA TODAY because of his age — made threats to the victim.
Police said a short time later, the teen was walking back home when the two approached him again, this time firing several gunshots in his direction. One of the bullets struck the teen in the head, police reported. The teen managed to to contact a guardian and was taken to Cape Canaveral Hospital.
Cocoa police detectives talked to witnesses and collected video that linked the two suspects to the shooting. Both were taken into custody and charged with attempted murder, police reports show. The gun was also recovered. It was not immediately known what the motive was or where the weapon was obtained.
Cocoa SWAT, Rockledge Police Department and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Game Over Task Force assisted in taking the suspects into custody, Lt. Bryan Stillwell of Cocoa Police Department’s criminal investigative division said in a statement.
“Our detectives worked together with our law enforcement partners to ensure these two individuals were apprehended swiftly and safely,” Stillwell said.
“I am proud of the professionalism and dedication shown in this case. Their efforts not only delivered justice for the victim but also removed a firearm from dangerous individuals, making our community safer.”
Both suspects were transported to the Brevard County Jail Complex. Neal, who faces several other felony charges in addition to that of attempted murder, remains jailed on a no-bond status, while the 17-year-old was set to appear before a judge in juvenile court.
J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Or X, formerly known as Twitter: @JDGallop.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Cocoa police: 1 adult, 1 juvenile charged in attempted murder after teen shot in head
Reporting by J.D. Gallop, Florida Today / Florida Today
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