Tampa authorities decline charges in fatal shooting of 15-year-old

Authorities in Tampa, Florida, have announced that a man in his mid-20s will not face criminal charges for the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Heitor Amaral. The incident occurred on September 20 at an apartment complex on River Willow Place while Amaral and two friends were using tracking technology to locate a lost cellphone.

According to the Tampa Police Department, the shooter claimed he acted in self-defense after Amaral placed him in a headlock during a physical altercation. The resident had reportedly armed himself and donned a mask to scare off the teenagers. Following a comprehensive review of the evidence, the state attorney’s office determined they could not refute the self-defense claim.

However, the account is disputed by the family of one of the teenagers present. Yessenia Gonzalez, whose son was with Amaral, stated there was no physical fight and that the teenagers were running away when the resident opened fire. She described the shooter as appearing eager to use his weapon.