14-year-old shot during home invasion

LAKE CITY, Fla. – A 14-year-old boy who was shot during a home invasion in Lake City is still critical, but stable Wednesday afternoon.

An unknown man kicked in the front door of a home on NE Webster Avenue shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday and began shooting at the people inside, according to the Lake City Police Department.

"Basically, at the time the shooter came through the front door (the teenager) was sitting there doing his homework," said Lake City Police Sgt. Craig Strickland. "From my understanding from the school, he's a B student at one of our local schools and he was in the living room with his 16-year-old brother, who was" watching TV at the time."

The shooter, wearing all black clothing and a ski mask, ran away from the scene.

The 14-year-old was shot in neck and the taken to a local hospital, where he was in critical but stable condition.

Police told News4Jax this shooting could be a retaliation for a murder that happened last April at a Lake City park.

“This is a tragic event for the family and for this young man,” said Chief Argatha Gilmore. “We, as a police agency, find this reckless disregard for human life very disturbing and ask for the public’s assistance in identifying the shooter and anyone else involved"

Anyone who knows anything about the shooting is asked to call 386-758-5451 or the anonymous tipline at 386-719-2068.


About the Authors:

Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.