In a tragic turn of events on Christmas Eve in Largo, a family dispute over Christmas gifts has left a young mother dead, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri provided details of the incident, revealing that the distressing ordeal commenced during a family Christmas shopping outing on Sunday night.
The source of the conflict was identified as Damarcus Coley, a 14-year-old who became upset over what he perceived as his 15-year-old brother, Darcus Coley, receiving more gifts than him. Upon returning to their grandmother's residence at 2357 22nd Avenue Southwest, the disagreement escalated.
Attempting to mediate the argument, Abrielle Baldwin, 23, stepped in while they were outside the house. Gualtieri reported that Abrielle urged her brother Damarcus to cease the quarrel over gifts. However, the situation took a tragic turn when Damarcus allegedly threatened his sister, expressing his intention to shoot her and the baby she had in a carrier.
Regrettably, Damarcus followed through on his threat, fatally shooting Abrielle. Miraculously, the baby escaped unharmed. In response to this horrifying act, Darcus, Abrielle's brother, reportedly shot Damarcus. Currently, Damarcus Coley is in stable condition in the hospital, and authorities plan to take him into custody upon his release.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Darcus Coley has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder. Sheriff Gualtieri, speaking at a Tuesday morning news conference, underscored the pressing need for more robust laws aimed at preventing teenagers from gaining access to firearms.
The incident serves as a somber reminder of the potential consequences when family disputes escalate to such tragic proportions, shedding light on the urgency of addressing issues related to teen access to firearms. The call for stronger legislation emphasizes the broader societal concern surrounding the accessibility of guns, particularly among adolescents, and the devastating impact it can have on families and communities.
