TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The 16-year-old boy accused of accidentally shooting and killing his sister inside an apartment on Joe Louis Street is now being charged as an adult.
The State Attorney's Office says Matthew Cook, 16, has been transferred into jail custody after being charged as an adult.
According to court documents, the Tallahassee Police Department responded to Joe Louis Street the afternoon of Aug. 23 for a shooting.
In the 911 call, the caller stated that his 15-year-old sister shot herself in the head. When officers arrived, the victim was pronounced dead and the gun that may have been used in the shooting was no longer at the scene.
Documents say witnesses told police that they were in the victim's room when Cook repeatedly pointed the gun at the victim's head. One of the witnesses said the victim stated that "she wasn't scared of that gun," or something to that effect.
At some point, the gun went off, the bullet hitting the victim in the head. After checking on the victim, documents say Cook took the gun into the woods and allegedly stated that he was "going to prison for life."
When officers spoke to Cook, he initially said that the victim shot herself. When confronted with conflicting statements from witnesses, he admitted that he had shot the victim
"He explained that it was an accident and didn't believe the gun was loaded. He explained that his sister was lying on the bed and reached up, 'playing with him and play fighting' as he stood beside her bed," documents wrote.
He said that he was holding the gun when he intentionally pulled the trigger, believing the gun was empty.
When he realized he had shot his sister, Cook told investigators that he took it into the woods to remove it from the scene and lied to his mother while on the phone with 911.
Documents say Cook said he had purchased the gun for $200 from someone weeks ago and said he bought it to "protect his house."
The State Attorney's Office noted that Cook has a criminal background that includes grand theft, robbery and loitering/prowling.
A 16-year-old has been charged with negligent manslaughter after a fatal shooting on Joe Louis Street Friday afternoon.
The Tallahassee Police Department officers responded to the area regarding a person who was reportedly shot at about 5:20 p.m. Friday. That victim, who has not been identified, later died from their injuries.
An investigation revealed that the juvenile suspect was "playing with a firearm" and shot the victim. After shooting the victim, police say the teen suspect hid the gun before first responders could arrive.
TPD says the teen was taken in for questioning before probable cause was developed to arrest the teen.
The 16-year-old has been charged with negligent manslaughter, possession of a weapon or ammo by a delinquent and tampering with evidence.
The Tallahassee Police Department is investigating a shooting that left one person injured.
TPD is investigating a shooting incident at 1700 Joe Louis Street. At about 5:20 p.m. Friday, officers responded to the area regarding a person who was reportedly shot. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
This case has been assigned to investigators with TPD's Violent Crimes Unit. At this time, TPD is interviewing all known witnesses and processing the scene.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about this case to please call them at (850) 891-4200 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS.
A list of all reported shootings in Tallahassee this year is below. Fatal shootings are marked with an asterisk (*):
- The 1st shooting happened New Year's Day in a plaza on West Pensacola Street. Five people were injured. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 2nd shooting happened Jan. 3 on Sapphire Drive. One person was injured in the shooting. Andrew Lawyer II was arrested for the domestic shooting.
- The 3rd shooting happened Jan. 6on Jackson Bluff Road. One person was killed in the shooting. Darius Phillips was arrested for the fatal shooting.*
- The 4th shooting happened Jan. 13 on Joe Louis Street. One person was killed in the shooting. Preston Hart was arrested for the fatal shooting.*
- The 5th shooting happened Feb. 10 at Cafe Shisha on West Tennessee Street. One person was killed in the shooting. Darrel Wyche, Jr. was arrested in connection to the fatal shooting.*
- The 6th shooting happened Feb. 22 on Blountstown Highway. Christopher Brown was arrested in connection to the domestic shooting.
- The 7th shooting happened Feb. 23 on Canton Circle. One person was injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 8th shooting happened Feb. 25 on Old Bainbridge Road. One person was killed in the shooting. Jordan K. Smith and Xavier Coachman were arrested in connection to the fatal shooting.*
- The 9th shooting happened Feb. 25 on West Pensacola Street. One person was injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 10th shooting happened Feb. 26 on Silver Slipper Lane. No one was injured in the incident. Andrew Saylor was arrested for the shooting.
- The 11th shooting happened March 1 on Wallis Street. One person was injured in the shooting. Tamarick Barnes was arrested in connection to the shooting.
- The 12th shooting happened March 7 on Mission Road. One person was injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 13th shooting happened March 17 on Basin Street. No one was injured in the shooting. Torrey Jones and Martaz Solomon were arrested in connection to the shooting.
- The 14th shooting happened March 21 on North Monroe Street. No one was injured in the shooting. Joseph Lopez was arrested in connection to the incident.
- The 15th shooting happened March 22 on Alpha Avenue. One person was injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 16th shooting happened March 22 on East Palmer Avenue. Two people were injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 17th shooting happened March 24 on Pontiac Drive. One person was injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 18th shooting happened April 3 on Chapel Drive. No one was injured in the incident. Benjamin Mallory was arrested in connection to the shooting.
- The 19th shooting happened April 5 on Ross Road. The arrestee in the incident, Alexquandra Forbes, was injured in the shooting.
- The 20th shooting happened April 6 on Kissimmee Street. Four students were injured in the incident. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 21st shooting happened April 9 on Mahan Drive. The arrestee in the incident, Calvin Anderson, were injured in the shooting.
- The 22nd shooting happened April 16 on Capital Circle Northeast. One person was injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 23rd shooting happened April 26 on North Martin Luther King Boulevard. No one was injured in the incident. Johnny Battles Jr. was arrested in connection to the shooting.
- The 24th shooting happened April 28 on Keith Street. One person was killed in the shooting. Antwan Wilson was arrested for the fatal shooting.*
- The 25th shooting happened May 4 on Texas Street. One person was injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 26th shooting happened May 9 on Ocala Road. One person was injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 27th shooting happened May 10 on South Adams Street. Two people were injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 28th shooting happened May 12 on West Brevard Street. A driver was injured in the incident, but no one was injured by gunfire. Jontavius Monroe, Dianna Ellis and Theodore Chaires were arrested in connection to the incident.
- The 29th shooting happened May 14 on Wabash Trail. Two arrestees, Jahlil Butts and Amarion Meeks, were injured in the shooting. Two others, Tyree Tillman and Jaylin Baldwin, were also arrested in connection to the incident.
- The 30th shooting happened May 14 on Central Street. One person was killed in the shooting. Antonio Conyers was arrested for the fatal shooting.*
- The 31st shooting happened May 19 on East Magnolia Drive. One person was injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 32nd shooting happened May 20 at an unknown location. One person arrived to a local hospital with gunshot wound. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 33rd shooting happened May 22 on Honolulu Lane. No one was injured in the shooting. Byron Wimberly and Jontavian Riley were arrested in connection to the shooting.
- The 34th shooting happened May 26 on Jackson Bluff Road. One person was injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 35th shooting happened May 27 on West Tharpe Street. One person was killed in the shooting. Twinn Williams was arrested for the fatal shooting.*
- The 36th shooting happened May 28 on Dixie Drive. No one was injured in the shooting. Matthew Jackson was arrested in connection to the shooting.
- The 37th shooting happened June 4 on Sharer Road. One person was killed in the shooting. Tywaun Bivins and Kennidi Jones were arrested for the fatal shooting.*
- The 38th shooting happened June 11 on Old Bainbridge Road. One person was injured in the shooting. No arrests have been made in this case.
- The 39th shooting happened June 20 on South Adams Street. One person was killed in the shooting. Xavier Barkley was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting.*
- The 40th shooting happened June 25 on Balkin Road. One person was hurt in the shooting. Jalynn Alvarez was arrested in connection with the shooting.
- The 41st shooting happened July 7 on Fairbanks Ferry Road. One person was hurt in the shooting. Brittany Alexander was arrested in connection with the shooting.
- The 42nd shooting happened July 10 on Ocala Road. One person was killed and another was hospitalized with serious injuries. Robert Simmons, Jr. was arrested in connection with the shooting.*
- The 43rd shooting happened July 10 on Allison Marie Court. A 16-year-old victim was hurt in the shooting. Shemar Shorter and three juveniles were arrested in connection to the incident.
- The 44th shooting happened July 29 on Preston Street. One person was hurt in the shooting. Justin Haynes was arrested in connection with the shooting.
- The 45th shooting happened August 8 on McKeithen Street. No one was hurt in the shooting turned abduction. Trec Berry was arrested in connection with the incident.
- The 46th shooting happened on August 9 on Oxford Road. One person was found dead from apparent gunshot wounds. No one has been arrested in connection with the incident.*
- The 47th shooting happened on August 20 on South Monroe Street. One person was found dead from apparent gunshot wounds. No one has been arrested in connection with the incident.*
- The 48th shooting happened August 23 on Joe Louis Street. One person was hurt in the shooting. No one has been arrested in connection with the shooting.
