A 15-year-old Florida male faces adult charges after officials said he fatally shot a 16-year-old classmate last month in an incident that began with a minor altercation in a high school hallway. Jacori Antonio Redding was charged with manslaughter with a weapon, possession of a firearm on school property, and possession of a firearm by a minor, according to an arrest affidavit. He received no bond for the manslaughter charge, while $10,000 and $1,000 bonds were set for the other counts.
The conflict escalated on October 9 at Oak Ridge High School in Orlando after Redding bumped into 16-year-old Pinien Dalmacy, who demanded an apology that Redding refused, officials said. The two agreed to fight later that day at Vogt-Meloon Park. Deputies responded to a shooting at the park’s basketball court and found Dalmacy with two gunshot wounds. Redding was arrested after fleeing back to the school, where his firearm was recovered from his bag.
A judge ordered Redding’s transfer from juvenile justice custody to Orange County Jail, and he was booked Friday. The Orange County State Attorney’s Office has charged him as an adult on all counts. Redding pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for a jail arraignment on November 10 and a hearing on November 12.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina expressed outrage over the tragedy, stating, “My heart aches for Pinien’s family… something as small as bumping into someone in the halls of a high school can result in a shooting death.” Authorities are seeking witnesses or video footage of the incident. Redding had previously faced charges in another case involving grand theft auto.
