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Florida teen, 14, charged with murdering 19-year-old during botched gun deal: cops

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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. 

Kydris Jackson, 14, was charged with second-degree murder.

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. 

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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.


Griffin Smith, 19, was shot and killed on Dec. 2, 2023.
Griffin Smith, 19, was shot and killed on Dec. 2, 2023.

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.

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He is being held at the Marion County Regional Juvenile Detention Center.



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Rainy stretch continues in South Florida

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Rainy stretch continues in South Florida


South Florida is experiencing a prolonged stretch of wet weather as deep tropical moisture combines with a stalled frontal boundary across the region.

The result has been frequent showers, thunderstorms, periods of heavy rainfall, and localized flooding concerns from Broward to Miami-Dade and throughout the Keys.

The atmosphere is loaded with moisture, allowing storms to produce intense downpours in a short amount of time.

Some neighborhoods have already seen several inches of rain, with additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms expected through the end of the week.

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Flood-prone streets and poor drainage areas remain especially vulnerable during the heaviest rainfall.

While the rain is helping ease drought conditions, it is also increasing the risk of flash flooding and travel delays.

South Florida is two weeks into its rainy season, when abundant heat and humidity combine to generate daily rounds of showers and thunderstorms.

Heavy rainfall, frequent lightning, and gusty winds are common features of this time of year.

The good news? Drier air will gradually filter into parts of the region heading into the weekend, allowing rain chances to slightly decrease. Until then, keep the umbrella handy and be prepared for sudden tropical downpours.

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Man accused of kidnapping woman at Wawa in Central Florida

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Man accused of kidnapping woman at Wawa in Central Florida


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A man is in custody after deputies said he tried to kidnap a woman at a Wawa near Winter park. Per investigators, Matthew Seaberg approached the victim from behind, picked her up by the waist, and threw her into his truck.



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Jury selection continues in fatal boat crash trial of South Florida real estate mogul George Pino

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Jury selection continues in fatal boat crash trial of South Florida real estate mogul George Pino


MIAMI — A new group of prospective jurors was questioned Tuesday in the trial of South Florida real estate mogul George Pino, who is charged in connection with a 2022 boat crash that killed a teenager in Miami-Dade County.

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During jury selection in a Miami-Dade courtroom, Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez asked potential jurors what they already knew about the case and whether they had recently seen or heard anything about it.

Several prospective jurors said they knew only basic details, including that a fatal boating crash occurred and that a teenage girl died. Others said they recalled media reports that alcohol may have been involved.

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As questioning continued, some prospective jurors disclosed connections to schools and communities tied to the case.

Passengers aboard Pino’s boat included his wife, his teenage daughter and 11 of her friends, many of whom attended private schools in Miami-Dade County.

One prospective juror said they graduated from a local private school around the time of the crash and were familiar with some of the students involved.

Another said references to schools and witnesses brought back memories of seeing posts and articles about the incident shared on social media.

A third said their child participates in youth sports with students from schools connected to the case.

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Investigators said the boat struck a channel marker while returning from an outing on Biscayne Bay. Seventeen-year-old Lourdes Academy student Lucy Fernandez drowned after the crash.

Tinkler Mendez also addressed concerns that a prospective juror had been viewing a news report about the case on a cellphone while waiting outside the courtroom.

Another prospective juror reported hearing the report but said it was not loud enough for everyone in the area to hear.

Tinkler Mendez reminded prospective jurors to avoid news coverage and social media discussions related to the case as jury selection continues.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.





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