Florida teen, 14, charged with murdering 19-year-old during botched gun deal: cops
A teenage boy is accused of shooting and killing a 19-year-old in broad daylight following a botched gun deal outside a Dollar General in Florida – with cops arresting the juvenile more than year after the fatal scuffle.
Kydris Jackson, 14, was charged with second-degree murder after the victim, Griffin Smith, was found riddled with bullets inside his Dodge Ram pickup moments after he purchased a firearm from the then 13-year-old gunman on Dec. 2, 2023, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
Police said the victim met Jackson at the Dollar General on Marion Oaks Boulevard to purchase the gun when the alleged perp attempted to swindle him for more money after the pair agreed to a $350 payment, according to court docs obtained by local outlets.
Following the deal-gone-wrong, the teen suspect fired off multiple shots at the victim as he attempted to drive away, according to cops, who later found 14 rifle shells near the fatal scene.
Police responded to the scene around 3:15 p.m. and found the victim’s truck in the tree line with Smith wounded inside, police said.
The gun purchased from the alleged teen killer was also seized from the Dodge Ram.
Smith was taken to a local hospital where he died, police said.
The teen runaway fled the scene but was arrested days later in Alachua County when authorities found him driving a stolen vehicle, which prompted a brief police pursuit.
A gun was also recovered from the stolen car, which resulted in a year-long investigation that involved witness interviews, DNA analysis and records review to link the teen to the fatal slaying.
Jackson, who was already in custody for a separate incident, was arrested and charged in the jailhouse.
He is being held at the Marion County Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
