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Teen charged in shooting of 5-year-old brother

Derrick L. Black, 16, was charged with illegally possessing the gun that his 7-year-old brother used to shoot the younger sibling, Darien Black.

By TIMES STAFF
Published February 16, 2006

St. Petersburg police today arrested a 16-year-old who brought home a gun that his younger brother found and used to shoot another sibling, 5-year-old Darien Black.

Derrick L. Black, 16, was arrested on charges he illegally possessed the firearm and negligently left it in a place where it could injure someone else. His 7-year-old brother told police he found the gun under the sofa last Tuesday and used it to shoot his younger brother, Darien, after an argument. Darien was taken to All Children's Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The shooting took place on Feb. 7 in a unit at the Citrus Grove Apartments, at 741 15 Street South.

Black was arrested twice last year, in June for carrying a concealed weapon and in August on two counts of auto theft. He is on probation for those crimes, and cannot legally own or possess a gun.

Black now also faces a felony possession of cocaine charge. Police said they found 13 rocks of crack cocaine in a spare bedroom of the apartment.

After being booked at the Pinellas County Jail, he was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

[Last modified February 16, 2006, 14:44:15]