"As a result of this event, we will be placing a moratorium on our campus Emergency Shelter Care program for the next 30 days and then will cease to provide that service until such time if/when that we feel that we can do so in a safe manner for the children coming into care and simultaneously protect our staff," McTyer said. "We have recently made changes to our Emergency ShelterCare program and have been working with our partners, including Sheriff Chitwood, CommunityPartnership for Children (CPC), and the Department of Child Welfare to address the state of child welfare in our community and the gaps in the system that result in the lack of adequate or appropriate placement for children who should at times be in the care of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)," McTyler said. "These children are in desperate need of care in the appropriate setting, which is a higher level of care than we provide," McTyer said in a statement.īoth children were in the home's emergency shelter care program, which is currently serving three children, McTyer said. Kitwana McTyer, president and CEO of Florida United Methodist Children’s Home, where the children lived, called the incident "tragic" and said it is "the result of the system failing our children."
"Deputies had nowhere to hide but trees," he added.īoth children were charged with attempted first-degree murder and armed burglary, according to documents.
A 14-year-old girl is seriously hurt after she and a 12-year-old boy allegedly armed themselves with stolen guns and opened fire on Florida deputies, June 1, 2021.