ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Tragedy struck a community in St. Petersburg as an 11-year-old boy was shot and killed on Friday afternoon, allegedly by his 14-year-old brother. The incident has raised concerns about access to firearms, a persistent issue addressed by local law enforcement in recent years.
The St. Petersburg Police responded to a home on 43rd Street South at around 12:15 p.m. Upon arrival, they discovered 11-year-old Amir Williams with a gunshot wound. Unfortunately, his injuries were fatal.
“This is a community tragedy,” stated St. Pete Police Assistant Chief Michael Kovacsev. “We have an 11-year-old child who sustained a gunshot wound and is deceased inside the residence at home with two siblings. Access to firearms is something that we have been going over and over again in this police department for the last couple of years, and it continues to be a problem.”
According to authorities, the 14-year-old brother claimed to have found the gun in a nearby alley and insisted that the family was unaware of its presence in the home. The siblings were also in the house with their 13-year-old sister, who notified their mother about the incident. Tragically, their mother was involved in a car crash on the way home, sustaining minor injuries.
Further investigation revealed that the gun used in the shooting had been reported stolen from a vehicle on April 24. Detectives are now looking into how the 14-year-old came into possession of the firearm.
Assistant Chief Kovacsev emphasized the preventable nature of the tragedy, stating, “A teenager should not have had a firearm. He was playing around with the firearm and it discharged. An 11-year-old child was killed.”
Amir’s family described him as an active sixth grader at Azalea Middle School and an enthusiastic member of the St. Pete Little Devils football team. The loss has left the community in deep mourning, with friends and family struggling to come to terms with the devastating incident.
While charges against the 14-year-old brother are not anticipated to be filed immediately, the St. Petersburg Police may consult with the State Attorney’s Office in the future regarding potential charges.