PALM COAST, FLORIDA: A 21-year-old male with a prior offense involving a firearm has been named prime suspect for fatally shooting an 18-month-old baby girl in the head at a Florida home over Labor Day weekend. According to Law and Crime, CJ Nelson Jr was in the home and arrested for violating probation.
Florida authorities responded to a call late on Sunday, August 3, after they received a “frantic” 911 call reporting that a baby girl was somehow shot dead. According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened before midnight on Sunday at a rental home at 2 Ranwood Lane in Palm Coast where eight adults were present.
Flagler County Sheriff issues a statement
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly offered “condolences to the family and friends of this little girl,” and called the latest shooting a “tragic situation.” Authorities informed that the baby was declared dead at the hospital thereafter.
“While God has a new little angel, we will investigate this incident along with the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Investigation Unit until all facts are known. There is no threat to the community,” the sheriff said. “The incident was contained inside this residence and all persons present or involved have been identified.”
Officers did not make any allegation against CJ Nelson Jr
During the initial press release of the incident, officers had not made any allegation that a crime occurred and did not make any arrests. They also noted that the incident might have taken place due to an accidental shooting.
“Major Case Unit detectives are still actively gathering evidence and speaking to witnesses. No arrests have been made at this time,” the sheriff’s office said. “This death may have been accidental; however, the investigation is still active and ongoing with the assistance of FDLE’s Crime Scene Investigators.”
What did the sheriff say about CJ Nelson Jr?
Staly said that Nelson is a person of interest in the shooting. “He has not been charged with this death — yet,” the sheriff said. The sheriff referred to Florida’s criminal culpable negligence statute, along with manslaughter, when discussing possible charges. Nelson has been booked for allegedly violating his probation, jail records show.
It is not clear if Nelson is related to the child by any means. However, the statute also says that a probe into an accidental shooting by a family member of a minor must be conducted for at least a week before such individual can be arrested in direct connection with the murder.
Staly said he was not ruling out culpability for the other adults in the home but he insisted that Nelson is the person of interest. “It would be a lot easier if everybody told us the truth,” Staly said of the other adults, including the victim’s biological mother. The sheriff said the child’s biological father was not at the scene.
“The child did not touch the firearm,” the sheriff said, identifying the weapon as an “American Tactical multi-caliber assault pistol.” “We have had two prior calls to this home in 2023 — one was for a stolen vehicle and one was a 911 investigation,” the sheriff said. “Since 2010, we have responded to 11 additional calls to this home, mostly civil service, various follow-ups, a welfare check, and a warrant service.”
Drugs were also found at the crime scene
The sheriff further added that cannabis and a “white powdery substance,” believed to be either cocaine or heroin, were found in the home. But, he clarified that investigators do not consider the incident to be “drug-related at this point.”
