A 14-year-old boy has been charged with second-degree murder after Florida police say a gun deal gone wrong resulted in the death of 19-year-old Griffin Smith. According to police, the incident took place on Dec. 2, 2023, but one year later, police have finally caught their suspect.
Around 3 p.m. on the day of the shooting, Smith met then 13-year-old Kydris Jackson outside of a Dollar General to buy a gun, according to a statement by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. But New York Post reports that things quickly escalated after Jackson reportedly attempted to get more than the agreed upon price of $350.
Court documents report when Smith attempted to drive away, Jackson allegedly began firing shots at Smith’s car with a separate gun. The victim was able to get away from Jackson, but not before driving his white pickup truck into the tree line behind the Marion Oaks Community Center, according to WJXT.
That’s when police were called to the scene and discovered an injured Smith behind the wheel. The firearm Smith bought from Jackson was also recovered from Smith’s vehicle, according to official reports. The 19-year-old was rushed to the hospital with a gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead.
After the incident, Jackson fled the scene of the crime, but was later arrested by police on unrelated charges on Dec. 13, 2023, according to WCJB. During the incident, Jackson fled from authorities in a stolen vehicle but was later found with a gun.
“Through the use of additional investigative techniques, information provided by witnesses, and the collection of DNA evidence, Detective Sergeant Pinder and Detective Fredette confirmed that Jackson was the person responsible for Smith’s death,” the police statement said.
A year later in November, detectives attempted to interview the now 13-year-old suspect, but the teen refused. Jackson was then charged with second degree murder while he was already in custody at the Marion County Regional Juvenile Detention Center, according to the New York Post. He is set to remain in jail until his court hearing.