FIVE YEAR-OLD SHOT IN CAR, SUSPECT ARRESTED

Oct. 26, 2022

Last night an argument between Jaelin Tito Hope, 17, and an Interlachen man in the area of Oakcrest Drive and 5th Way led to shots being fired and a 5-year-old transported by helicopter to a Gainesville hospital with a gunshot wound.

When deputies arrived on scene the victim's parents told deputies Hope got into an argument with the victim's dad. The victim's dad said he thought Hope had flagged him down as he was driving and he turned the vehicle around. The victim's dad told deputies when he drove up to Hope an argument began and Hope pulled a handgun out. The victim's mother said Hope appeared to be walking away but then she heard gunshots. The victim's father said he was driving away when he heard the gunshots. The victim's father drove to State Road 20 and Keuka Road where they were met by emergency personnel.

The child was flown to a Gainesville hospital and had surgery as of this morning. The child is currently listed in critical, but stable condition. An 8-year-old child also in the car received superficial injuries from the windows shattering.

Hope was located later in the evening. He was arrested and charged with one count aggravated battery, three counts aggravated assault and one count of firing a missile into a vehicle. All charges are felonies. Under Florida public records law juveniles can be identified when arrested on felony charges. Hope was taken to the Putnam County Jail and transported to a Department of Juvenile Justice facility.