18-year-old killed after robbery gone wrong in Punta Gorda

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An 18-year-old is dead following an attempted armed robbery when his 17-year-old target shot back in Punta Gorda.

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputies continue to investigate the incident that occurred late Saturday night at Grapefruit Lane.

Sheriff Bill Prummell said that upon arrival at the scene, deputies located 18-year-old Lianaal Jean, who had been shot dead.

“Lianaal had pulled out a firearm to rob the subject, but then the 17-year-old boy pulled out a firearm of his own and fired in what appears to be self-defense, striking and killing Lianaal,” Prummell said.

The girlfriend of the deceased, a 17-year-old, was also there and informed officers that the 17-year-old boy who fired the fatal shot fled on foot.

Officers were able to locate the boy and detain him where, upon further investigation, they discovered Jean and his girlfriend had invited the boy to Grapefruit Lane with the intention of robbing him.

The encounter then turned fatal for the would-be robber, Prummell said.

Furthermore, said the sheriff, the gun Jean had was illegally obtained.

“The firearm in which Liannal [brandished] was stolen from a burglary back in August in which Lianaal was charged with, but the firearm was never recovered,” Prummell said.

Deputies are still working to find where the 17-year-old boy tossed his firearm, how he obtained the gun and whether any additional charges will be filed against the boy.

This is still an ongoing investigation with many moving parts, according to Prummell. However, he did say it does appear the 17-year-old shot Jean in an act of self-defense.

Currently, no one has been charged.

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