A shocking incident unfolded in Ocoee, Florida, when an 11-year-old boy was apprehended and charged with shooting his 55-year-old aunt, Sandra Pape King. The family of the boy is grappling with the tragedy, expressing doubts about whether the child fully comprehends his involvement in the incident.
The incident occurred at an Idaho Court residence around 7:50 a.m. on May 17, as reported by the Ocoee Police Department. Responding to a shooting call, the officers discovered King with gunshot wounds. Although she was alive when found, she later succumbed to her injuries while being transported to Advent Health Apopka.
The young boy was taken into police custody following the incident. His first appearance in juvenile court was on the following Saturday, as reported by Florida ABC affiliate WFTV. Several family members were present at the hearing, including a cousin who revealed that their mother had been the boy’s guardian for the past five years. The court granted the family’s request to visit the boy during his detention.
The cousin expressed concern about the boy’s understanding of the situation, stating, “He doesn’t understand what’s going on. I don’t even think he knows he killed her.”
A neighbor, Jackson Genao, described the boy as having a typical temperament for his age, occasionally throwing tantrums, which he considered normal. He added that he had two daughters of the same age and didn’t think much of the boy’s behavior.
Another neighbor, who had interacted with King and her nephew just a few days before the incident, described the boy as “a little thin” and mentioned having seen him “kind of caught up” with his aunt in the past.
According to NBC affiliate WESH, neighbors reported hearing screams before the shooting and later found King shot in the driveway, her purse discarded nearby in the grass. Investigators removed several bags of evidence from the home, but it remains unclear how the boy obtained the firearm. The Ocoee Police Department has stated that the investigation is ongoing.