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Eighth Graders Charged in Burglary, Gun Theft

Arrests | Crime | Handcuffs

The four boys admitted the burglary and theft, Hernando deputies said.

BROOKSVILLE – Four eighth-grade students from West Hernando Middle School were arrested in connection with a residential burglary on Sun Road, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

The boys’ names are being withheld because of their ages, according to Tampa Bay Reporter policy. Three of them are 14 years old. The fourth is 15 years old. Each was charged with one count of Burglary of a Dwelling and two counts of Grand Theft Firearm.

Hernando deputies were dispatched to an address on Sun Road in Brooksville on Wednesday (Jan. 30) for a report of a Residential Burglary. Upon arrival, deputies met with the homeowner who told deputies that sometime between 7 a.m. and 6:65 p.m. that day, unknown person(s) had burglarized his home.

During the burglary numerous items were taken, including two firearms. Swafford also noted that at least one of the firearms had been fired during the burglary, as a fired round was located in the mattress in the master bedroom.

Investigation revealed that four boys had been seen walking back and forth on Sun Road in the afternoon hours. One witness claimed to have observed at least one of them carrying a gun case. The witness was also able to identify two of the boys.

Herando sheriff’s Detective Earnest Johnson interviewed the two boys who had been identified by the witness. Both boys confessed and provided the names of the other two boys involved in the burglary.

Johnson and another deputy interviewed those two boys, who also confessed.

During the interviews with each boy, deputies said they learned that the foursome had committed a burglary earlier in the day at another residence on Sun Road. One of the boys led a deputy to the location and provided detailed information on the burglary.

Johnson sid the boys told him that one of them had “accidentally” discharged a pistol he was stealing. That round ended up in the mattress. The boy told detectives he almost shot himself in the right leg.

Detectives recovered a majority of the stolen property, including both firearms.

Hernando Sheriff | Crime | Burglary | Arrests | Tampabay News

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