In the late hours of Sunday, September 3, a distressing event took place in Palm Coast, Florida, where an 18-month-old girl was shot in the head. The incident happened in a home situated on Ranwood Lane, close to Randolph Drive. The Flagler Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the situation around 11:45 pm after receiving a 911 call about the shooting.
Upon their arrival, law enforcement officers encountered the young child suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. An American tactical multiple-caliber assault pistol was identified as the weapon involved. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, the child did not survive her injuries.
On the following day, during a press conference, Sheriff Rick Staly named 21-year-old C.J. Nelson Jr. as a person of interest in relation to the incident. Nelson, known to have previous probation for a firearms-related offense, was taken into custody and arrested on account of a probation breach. He was under a mandate not to have firearms. Whether the weapon in question belonged to Nelson has not been confirmed by Sheriff Staly.
When the incident occurred, eight individuals, inclusive of the child’s mother, were inside the residence. So far, no one has come forward with information helpful to the ongoing investigation. The primary focus of the detectives remains to piece together the events and determine if the shooting was unintentional.
To ensure a comprehensive investigation, the Flagler Sheriff’s Office has joined forces with both the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office.
