[PHOTO CREDIT: Facebook / Hannah Grace Homes]
[Original Publish Date: 10/27/19]
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CLERMONT, Florida – A 15-year-old resident of the Hannah Grace Homes was arrested Wednesday after threatening his housemate with what the victim believed to be a semi-automatic pistol, but which police now believe was a BB gun. (The group’s homes for boys and girls are named after Hannah Grace Kelley – “who died as a result of an accidental discharge of a firearm in her father’s church”, according to the group’s website.)
The victim, age unknown, told a teacher at Gray Middle school he couldn’t sleep because a gun was pulled on him the night before. Wednesday afternoon, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy went to Hannah Grace Homes, in Clermont, to investigate. The victim told the deputy two boys who live in the same house with him had been giving him a hard time.
The victim said he went outside Tuesday night and found a marijuana “roach” and smoked it, according to the arrest affidavit. Upon finishing the “roach” the 15-year-old arrestee, “angrily approached him, stated he smelled weed and ordered [the victim] to give him the weed,” the affidavit states.
The victim told the suspect it was gone and the suspect pulled what the victim believed to be a small, black semi-automatic pistol from his waistband and aimed it at the victim’s head, demanding he give the suspect the weed, according to the affidavit. When the victim failed to produce the marijuana, the suspect put the pistol away and walked back into the house. The suspect appeared to be under the influence of marijuana during the incident, the affidavit states. The victim was unsure what kind of pistol it was, or even if it was real, but believed he was in real danger of being shot, according to the affidavit.
The victim went on to state he was “very scared he was going to get shot and continues to live in fear of the suspect and another juvenile male.” When questioned, the suspect said he knew of an unnamed person having a gun and he had seen the gun, but could not provide any details because “…it was dark out,” the arrest affidavit states.
While on scene, a house parent told the deputy she had located the gun, a black pistol-style BB gun, in a closet in the house.
The juvenile was arrested and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
