Following a decision made by the State Attorney's Office on Friday morning, February 28, Christopher Bevan,15, has been arrested and charged with Manslaughter with a Firearm, a first degree felony, for the fatal shooting of another teenager at a home in the FishHawk community of Lithia on December 13, 2019. Alongside his attorney and parents, Bevan turned himself into the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on Fridayafternoon. He has been transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC).
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister has released the following statement regarding the decision made by the State Attorney’s Office:
“We are aware of the State Attorney’s decision regarding criminal charges in the FishHawk shooting investigating involving the death of a 15-year-old child.
My heart breaks for the family of the young man who tragically lost his life.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office remains steadfast in our commitment to safe gun storage and public safety so that a tragic death like this is prevented. We believe, as stated before, anyone handling a firearm should always behave with the presumption that the firearm is loaded. Responsible gun owners should secure their weapons beyond the reach of anyone, especially children and teenagers. No parent or responsible gun owner wants another life to be senselessly lost because of carelessness.
If the law, as written and as reflected in the State Attorney’s decision, prevents criminal accountability, we should all advocate to change it.
While the statute as written and the lawyers who interpret it may not differentiate criminal responsibility based on familiarity with guns, as law enforcement officers, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard in order to prevent such tragic consequences, and ultimately, we must answer to a higher authority when asked why we didn’t do more. Our kids deserve better.” - Sheriff Chad Chronister, Hillsborough County
February 28, 2020
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