Teenage brothers, 14 and 15, are arrested after sister, 23, was murdered in argument over Christmas presents: Victim was shot dead while holding her BABY in deadly sibling showdown at grandma’s house in Texas
A 23-year-old Florida mother of two has been shot dead after an argument over Christmas presents.
Abrielle Baldwin was murdered on Christmas Eve at their grandmother's home in Largo, Florida.
Police believe the gun was fired by her 14-year-old brother Damarcus Coley, who was then shot by their 15-year-old sibling, Darcus Coley.
It is alleged that Darcus fled the scene and then called their mother.
Damarcus and his sister were taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery, but Abrielle did not survive her injuries.
Both brothers have been charged with murder and the state is considering trying them as adults.
Abrielle Baldwin, a 23-year-old mother of two, was shot and killed on Christmas Eve in Largo, Florida
Darcus Coley, 15 (left) and his brother Damarcus Coley, 14 (right), are both charged with murder or attempted murder
The drama started when the siblings went shopping with their mother, Joyce, and Arielle's two children: a six-year-old son and an 11-month-old son.
They returned to their grandmother's house in Largo and started arguing, with the 15-year-old saying his younger brother was getting more than him.
“The fact that two teenagers get into a fight over gifts – a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old – that happens,” said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. “But not with guns.”
Damarcus, 14, allegedly pulled out a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and threatened to shoot his brother in the head, but their uncle managed to remove him from the home, Gualtieri explained.
Outside, it becomes clear that Damarcus was confronted by their sister, who was carrying her eleven-month-old son in a baby carrier.
“You all need to leave that stuff alone. Why are you trying to start it? It's Christmas,” she told him, in audio recorded by a neighbor's camera system and obtained by The Tampa Bay Times.
The Christmas Eve shooting took place outside the siblings' grandmother's home in Largo (pictured)
Abrielle was shot and killed with this gun, police said, which they believe was stolen from a car
Damarcus Coley, 14, poses with his gun, hours before he allegedly shot and killed his sister
Gualtieri continued: 'Damarcus then started arguing with Abrielle and used very derogatory language – I won't repeat it all – and all kinds of profanities.
“He called her awesome and all kinds of other things, and stated that he was going to shoot her and that he was 'going to shoot the baby too.'
Damarcus then allegedly shot his sister in the chest.
His brother Darcus reportedly ran from the house, screaming that his sister had been shot — and then allegedly shot Damarcus with his own .45 caliber pistol.
Darcus fled the scene, threw his gun in a nearby yard and contacted his mother, officers said.
He was later taken to a mental health facility due to “self-harm statements” and is expected to be transferred to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center.
Both brothers have been charged.
Damarcus Coley is charged with first-degree murder, child abuse and delinquent in possession of a firearm, and could be charged as an adult.
His 15-year-old brother is charged with attempted first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.
Abrielle Baldwin, 23, was the mother of a six-year-old son and an 11-month-old son
The baby was being held in a baby carrier by his mother when she was shot, but the child was unharmed
Gualtieri said “juvenile delinquents” obtain firearms either by purchasing stolen weapons on the street or through car burglaries.
'Both Damarcus and Darcus carried weapons at all times. They routinely carried firearms,” he said.
'People knew. That's what they did.'
He added: “This is what happens when you have young offenders and they carry guns.
“They get upset, they don't know how to deal with things, so they just grab their guns and start shooting at each other.”
Gualtieri said both brothers were well known to police.
The history of Damarcus' arrest dates back to when he was twelve. He was previously charged with vehicle theft, battery on a school employee and battery on a law enforcement officer, Gualtieri said.
Both brothers were arrested in May for multiple car burglaries and both have prior juvenile charges of underage and firearm possession.
Gualtieri added, “The problem is there are way too many kids with way too many guns.”
He said gun violence among young children was the worst he has ever seen.
“These kids need to be locked up,” Gualtieri said. 'Send a message.'