Stepdad kills adult stepson after wrestling gun from 9-year-old, Florida cops say

A 9-year-old upset that he couldn’t play a video game grabbed a gun from his mom’s bedroom, then a struggle among the family ended in a fatal shooting, Florida authorities said.

The boy’s 43-year-old stepdad is now charged with second-degree murder and unlawful storage of a firearm (accessible to a minor) following the death of the man’s 26-year-old stepson, according to the Davenport Police Department.

McClatchy News is not identifying the suspect to protect the identity of his minor stepson.

The evening of May 21, the 9-year-old’s mother caught him playing Fortnite, which he wasn’t allowed to play, in his 26-year-old brother’s room, officers said.

The mom took away the 9-year-old’s phone as punishment, then the boy walked into her bedroom with her, opened the nightstand drawer and grabbed a handgun, according to police.

The mom and stepdad began struggling with the 9-year-old for the gun, then the stepdad ended up with it as the older brother walked into the room and saw his younger brother “in an agitated state” with his stepfather holding the gun, officers said.

The 26-year-old began arguing with his stepdad, then the stepdad shot him multiple times in the torso, according to police.

The stepson tried to get away from the bedroom, but his stepdad pursued him and shot him twice in the back, police said.

The 26-year-old died at a hospital, and the stepdad was booked in Polk County jail, according to officers.

The mom’s 11-year-old child was also home during the shooting, police said.

Davenport is about a 35-mile drive southwest from Orlando.

This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM with the headline "Stepdad kills adult stepson after wrestling gun from 9-year-old, Florida cops say."