PALM COAST, Fla. – Two 911 calls released Tuesday reveal the chaotic moments after a Flagler County teenager was shot early Saturday morning outside a smoke shop.
Operator: Flagler County 911. What's the location of your emergency?
Caller: We're at the smoke shop by the Kangaroo. My friend just got shot.
As 18-year-old Curtis Gray lay on the ground in the parking lot bleeding from a gunshot wound to the chest, a bystander applied pressure and helped feed information to two 911 callers. One of the callers described the bystander as "an Army guy."
"No exit wound in the back," the bystander could be heard saying on the 911 call.
LISTEN: 911 call No. 1 | 911 call No. 2
The two 911 dispatchers praised the callers for their calm, but despite the efforts of those who rushed to his aid, Gray died within hours at a local hospital.
The Flagler Palm Coast High School senior was a star athlete and was set to graduate next month.
Deputies said he was shot by 17-year-old Marion Gavins Jr., who later turned himself in to authorities.
Gavins (pictured) is charged with first-degree murder.
Flagler court records show Gavins was previously arrested on charges of :
- Selling marijuana near a school at 13 years old (2014)
- Violation of probation and possession of a weapon -- an 8-inch kitchen knife (2015)
- Domestic violence toward his mother (2016)
- Violation of home detention (2016)
Deputies said they are still searching for Teresa Salgado, 18, who goes by the name “Alex,” who they call a person of interest in the case. They said she is not considered a suspect.
Witnesses told deputies that Gavins and Salgado (pictured below) were in the Blaze 'n Flame Smoke Shop shortly before the shooting took place. The report said Gray went into that store but left quickly after leaving seeing Gavins.
The report indicates that Gavins admitted being in the back seat of a GMC Yukon near the smoke shop and laundromat where the shooting took place.
According to the arrest report, witnesses said they saw Gavins point a handgun at Gray out the window of an SUV and fire once before the vehicle sped away.
After his arrest, Gavins told deputies he thought Gray was armed.
He also indicated in a social media video posted before he turned himself in that he fired because the victim had a gun.
Deputies said no gun was found on or near the victim.
Anyone with information about Salgado's whereabouts or other information about the case is asked to call the Flagler County Sheriff's Office at 386-313-4911 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477). Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
RELATED: Deputies release video of 17-year-old talking about shooting
Witnesses threatened
The Sheriff's Office issued a warning Tuesday after reports that witnesses to the fatal shooting had been threatened.
Deputies said they are still investigating Gray's death and need to speak with witnesses.
They said there have been reports of retaliation threats against witnesses and social media threats against Gray's family and Gavins' family. The Sheriff's Office said it will charge those involved in any threats with felonies.
“Let it be known that each of those instances will be investigated fully by FCSO and those engaged in such threats could potentially face charges for either written threats to kill or witness tampering,” the Sheriff's Office said in a release. “Both crimes are felonies under Florida law.”
A GoFundMe page put up by Gray's family asking for help raising money for a funeral raised $15,000 in one day.