Teen tells Martin County deputies he was 'dancing' with gun before it went off, killing 14-year-old friend

INDIANTOWN — A 14-year-old middle school boy was shot in the stomach and later died after an incident in his friend's home Sunday evening, according to a Martin County Sheriff's Office incident report.

The deputy who responded to the home in the 14700 block of Southwest 172nd Avenue reported Jimarion "Jay" Jones had a gunshot wound to the left side of his stomach.

The boy's 17-year-old friend was arrested Sunday night and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, according to a juvenile arrest affidavit.

The 17-year-old told deputies he was "dancing with" and "messing with" the gun before his hand slipped and he fired a shot. He told deputies he didn't think the gun was loaded.

Jay was found unresponsive, "gasping for air" and lying in a bedroom in the home just before 5:30 p.m. He was taken to Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital, where he soon died, according to officials.

Emma Pizarroa, who lives a few homes away from the 17-year-old, said she knows the teen who was charged and his family.

"I don't understand why this tragedy happened," Pizarroa said. "This is a good neighborhood that's usually pretty quiet."

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What happened

According to the 17-year-old's juvenile arrest affidavit, the teen, Jay and another friend were at the 17-year-old's home. At one point, the 17-year-old started to "wave around" a semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at Jay, the friend told deputies.

Jay and the other friend told the 17-year-old to stop.

After Jay was shot, the friend applied pressure to his wound to try and stop the bleeding and told the 17-year-old to call someone.

Both boys were questioned and each said the other brought the gun to the home. Deputies said the 17-year-old originally told deputies an unknown gunman shot Jay from the hallway outside of the bedroom they were in.

The 17-year-old later told deputies he was the person who fired the shot.

Deputies questioned several people, including two women who lived at the home.

A 19-year-old woman told them she was inside talking to a friend on FaceTime when her 17-year-old brother ran into her room and yelled his friend had been shot.

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Another woman, 20, told deputies she was sitting in her car in front of the home when she saw a man run up the street.

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Detectives with the Sheriff's Office and the State Attorney’s Office are investigating.

"I just only pray for the both families," said Pizarroa, who has lived in the neighborhood her whole life.

"I know what it's like to lose a child. It's a pain that never goes away."

'Uplifted other kids'

Steven Dove will remember his family friend and long-time football player Jay as a bright kid who was always smiling.

The 14-year-old played offensive lineman and defensive tackle for Indiantown Diamondbacks Youth Football.

"He was a great athlete," said Dove, his coach. "The sky was the limit for him. I could really see him going to the next level with the game of football."

Dove, who knew Jay for seven years, said the teen was an outgoing and great kid.

"He always kept a smile on his face and he always uplifted other kids," he said.

In addition to football, which was a big passion of Jay's, Dove said he enjoyed basketball, fishing and listening to music.

Tabitha Smith, an organizer for the youth football league, said she's known Jay's family for several years.

"He was a super sweet boy," Smith said. "He was probably one of the sweetest boys on the league."

Smith said during off-seasons, Jay was anxious to play football and would text her regularly about getting the team together to play.

"Sports are so important, especially for a town like Indiantown," Smith said. "Sports keep these kids out of trouble and busy."

Community grieving

"It is with the heaviest of hearts that I confirm the passing of a child, a Thunderbird, and an amazing Indiantown Middle School student, said Principal Jeff Raimann in a Facebook post.

"As our community begins to grieve this unimaginable loss, please note that a team of grief counselors has been on site and will remain here as long as they are needed."

He said he visited the Jones family at their home, and that a candlelight vigil was planned Monday night on Southwest 172nd Ave.

"It would mean the world to them to have us light up the night, honoring and remembering this incredible young man."