17-year-old arrested after 5-year-old shot in Putnam County, deputies say

Jaelin Hope, 17, was arrested after a 5-year-old was shot and critically injured Tuesday near Interlachen, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, an argument Tuesday night between a 17-year-old and an Interlachen man in the area of Oak Crest Drive and Fifth Way led to shots being fired.

Deputies said a 5-year-old suffered a gunshot wound, was airlifted to a hospital in Gainesville and had surgery. The Sheriff’s Office said a bullet fragment was removed from his head. At last check, deputies said, the 5-year-old was in critical but stable condition.

At the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Office, the 5-year-old’s parents told deputies that the 17-year-old got into an argument with the 5-year-old’s father.

The 5-year-old’s father said he thought the teenager had flagged him down as he was driving, so he turned the vehicle around, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The father stated that when he drove up to the teen, an argument ensued and the teen pulled out a gun, deputies said.

The 5-year-old’s mother said the teen appeared to be walking away but then she heard gunshots, according to deputies.

“I was coming up the street. I pulled up. Then I heard a bang. Bang. Bang. Bang,” a witness, who asked not to be identified, told News4JAX.

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According to the Sheriff’s Office, the 5-year-old was shot while in the car.

The 5-year-old’s father drove to State Road 20 and Keuka Road, where they were met by emergency personnel, deputies said.

The Sheriff’s Office said an 8-year-old also suffered curs from shattered glass but is OK.

Deputies said the teen, identified as Hope, was located later in the evening and was arrested on one count of aggravated battery, three counts of aggravated assault and one count of firing a missile into a vehicle — all of which are felony charges.

The Sheriff’s Office said the teen was taken to the Putnam County jail and then transported to a Department of Juvenile Justice facility.