COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (First Coast News) - Two adults have been charged with negligence after an 11-year-old accidentally shot and killed 14-year-old Jadon Lane Vaughn in December.
According to a document from the State Attorney's Office, Sierra Watts, 28, and Jordan Palm, 31, have been charged with improperly storing two loaded firearms, a Ruger 89 handgun and a Ruger EC9S handgun.
According to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Jadon was visiting the home of two brothers back in December when they all began to play wrestle.
According to CCSO, the 11-year-old went and retrieved a pistol from his parent’s room, removed the magazine and pointed it at Jadon. Deputies say the gun discharged, killing Jadon.
Afterward, deputies say that the 11-year-old called his father and told him that Jadon came at him with a knife. The suspect and his 13-year-old brother later admitted placing a kitchen knife near Jadon after the shooting, believing they would be in less trouble.
The suspect is currently in juvenile detention in Gainesville.
11-year-old arrested for killing 14-year-old boy in Columbia County home
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - An 11-year-old boy has been arrested for the shooting death of 14-year-old Jadon Vaughn in Columbia County.
On Thursday, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office obtained an arrest warrant for the 11-year-old boy that shot and killed Jadon Vaughn Wednesday night.
The 11-year-old boy was taken into custody without incident at a home in Gilchrist County on the charge of manslaughter and is currently in juvenile detention in Gainesville.
Detectives said to this date, the investigation has revealed that Jadon was visiting the home of the 11-year-old boy and his brother. The adults of the home went out for the evening, leaving the children at the home by themselves.
According to detectives, Jadon and the 11-year-old began play wrestling to try and see if the family dog would respond to Jadon attacking the 11-year-old.
After that, the 11-year-old went and got a pistol from his parent's room, removed the magazine, pointed it at Jadon before the gun discharged and killed him.
Detectives said the 11-year-old called his father and told him that Jadon came at him with a knife.
The 11-year-old and his brother admitted to placing a kitchen knife near Jadon after the shooting believing they would be in less trouble.
“This is a tragic and avoidable death” Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter said. “Our hearts are broken for both families; one has lost a son and the other will struggle with these events for the rest of their lives” “To honor Jadon, I want to stress the important of securing your firearms so a child cannot get to them.”
This is still an ongoing investigation.
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy.
About 7 p.m. Wednesday, deputies from the sheriff's office responded to the 200 block of SE Anastasia Street in unincorporated Columbia County due to a report of a person shot, according to a Facebook post.
Upon their arrival, the deputies learned that the 14-year old boy, now deceased, had been shot.
There were two other juveniles inside the home at the time of the shooting, the sheriff's office said. The victim was a friend of the others and had been visiting them all day.
The sheriff said more information will be released as the investigation continues.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover Vaughn’s funeral services. The GoFundMe page reads:
"On the day after Christmas, December 26th 2018 jadon was involved in a tragic accident that resulted in the loss of his life at just the age of 14. I cannot even believe I’m here doing this but times are extremely difficult and I’m doing this on behalf of my sister, as the financial hardship of Christmas has just endured my family. Jadon was a very caring and loving little boy who was ready to take on the world headfirst. I remember him just telling me yesterday that he had got everything he wanted for Christmas and he was so happy. He loved me and his mother even our entire family to death being that he lost his father to suicide just a few years ago when he was a young boy. I do not expect a lot of donations but anything helps so we can give my sweet nephew a proper burial and tombstone. Please help my family and most importantly my sister as she is at a complete loss and doesn’t know where to turn. We thank you for every cent raised and jadon would be very happy."
