ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – In the wake of a decision by prosecutors to charge a 15-year-old as an adult in connection with a fatal shooting, an Orlando-based mentoring initiative is intensifying its efforts to guide young individuals away from crime and towards educational success.

Daniel Ings, the founder of the Boys2Men Mentoring Program, emphasizes their core objective: equipping teenagers with conflict resolution skills to prevent them from making irreversible, life-altering choices.

“My goal was to halt the path leading from school to incarceration,” Ings expressed.

Authorities from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office have identified 15-year-old Jacori Redding as the suspect in the shooting of a 16-year-old near Oak Ridge High School last month. The incident reportedly stemmed from a minor altercation between two sophomores in a school hallway, which escalated into a fatal encounter. Redding faces prosecution as an adult in this case.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, 15-year-old Jacori Redding is accused of shooting and killing a 16-year-old boy near Oak Ridge High School last month. During a news conference at the time, the sheriff said two sophomores got into a disagreement over a bump in the hallway, a dispute that tragically turned deadly. Redding is now being tried as an adult.

“To hear that a bump in the hallway led to this — very shocking. But kids are angry now,” Ings said.

For the past nine years, Boys2Men has mentored nearly 400 boys in Orange County. This year alone, Ings says the program is working with 150 students, helping them process emotions and make better decisions.

“Those are the skills we’re teaching — how to self-regulate, how to de-escalate, what to do to stay out of that red zone when you feel triggered,” Ings explained.“If they do get triggered, we tell them to take a walk, find a calm space, listen to music, or talk to a responsible adult.”

The program focuses on teaching communication, emotional intelligence, and helping teens explore potential career paths — reminding them that life is not a game where you get a do-over.

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“Just stop and think for a moment — if I move forward based on my emotions, what could happen? Could it be incarceration? Could I get arrested? Could I lose my life?” said Ings.

On Wednesday, Boys2Men will have a ribbon-cutting to launch its new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math (STEAM) initiative to inspire students to pursue success in school and beyond.

Those interested in getting involved or supporting the program can visit b2morlando.org