Teen Forces Entry Into Florida Home, Fatally Stabs 15-Year-Old Host of Sleepover

Teen Forces Entry Into Florida Home, Fatally Stabs 15-Year-Old Host of Sleepover
Learn how a 16-year-old boy forced his way into a Florida home and badly stabbed a 15-year-old who was hosting a sleepover with friends, according to police. JOE LAMBERTI/AFP via Getty Images

A 16-year-old boy broke into a Florida home and badly stabbed a 15-year-old hosting a sleepover with friends, according to police.

Teen Fatally Stabs 15-Year-Old Boy in Florida Home

Alexander Hernandez walked almost six miles on Saturday night to the casualty's house in Wildwood, arriving unannounced and "banging" on the front door around 10 p.m., declared the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

Connor Michael Gill, the 15-year-old victim, opened the door, and Hernandez forced his way inside, allegedly stabbing him.

A 48-year-old adult in the home rushed to intervene and was also stabbed. Hernandez threatened a third person before fleeing on foot, police reported.

"This was undoubtedly a premeditated and targeted attack," said Undersheriff Pat Breeden. The two casualties were airlifted to a local hospital. Gill was declared dead around 1:20 p.m., and the adult remains in stable condition in the ICU, Breeden added.

Hernandez was found later by a police helicopter and taken into custody with two weapons on him at the time of his arrest.

The teen announced to the detectives he ordered the weapons online last Thursday, obtained them on Saturday, and after playing with them for a while, went to the casualty's house.

Hernandez is liable for intentional first-degree killing, aggravated assault with a fatal weapon without intent to kill and armed crime. The intention for the stabbing is still ambiguous.

Both teenagers were homeschooled, according to police, but it is not definite how they knew each other.

Witness Narrates Fatal Stabbing of Teenager During Sleepover

A witness narrates the moments leading up to a Sumter County teen being deadly stabbed during a sleepover. Michael Carr, a family friend living in the house, was present during the assault.

"When he came up, he was banging on the door. Connor unlocked it," Carr explained. "He immediately swung at Connor."

"He had a mission. That's all I can say. He had a mission in his eyes. It was cold. It wasn't normal for a 16-year-old. He didn't look right," Carr continued.

According to law enforcement, Gill knew the suspect. Deputies report that the suspect had two weapons and stabbed both Gill and an adult. Carr confirmed the other victim was Gill's father.

"He stabbed Jeff under his arm, hitting an artery. Then he turned around, walked out the door, and said, 'Everyone beware'," Carr said. Deputies stated that Connor died later that Saturday night, while his father was recovering in the hospital.

"The whole family is in shambles right now," Carr said. "Connor was cool. He was a common 15-year-old. He liked to have fun, play video games, and have goals."

During the investigation, deputies learned the suspect had fled the scene on foot. They later found and arrested him. When interviewed, the suspect said he ordered the weapons last Thursday, received them on Saturday, and then walked six miles to the Wildwood home to stab the victims, according to deputies.

The suspect is facing charges of first-degree intentional killing, aggravated attack with a fatal weapon without intent to murder, and armed crime. Anyone with data is asked to call the Sumter County Sheriff's Office at 352-793-2621.

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