Police: Mom arrested, owned gun that teen son used to shoot two children

PALM BAY, Fla. — A mother is under arrest after Palm Bay police said her 13-year-old son shot two teenagers.

Read: 13-year-old arrested for shooting two childrenInvestigators believe Brenda Maldonado, 33, owned the gun that her son used in the shooting Saturday night in Palm Bay. Detectives said Maldonado did not take proper measures to secure the weapon.

Detectives charged Maldonado with culpable negligence and unsafe storage of a firearm. Investigators said her son got a hold of her gun, forced his way into a home on Rila Street Southeast and shot two other teens, ages 14 and 17, who are still in the hospital.

The shooting happened at the home of a former girlfriend of the son, police said.

Maldonado's attorney told the judge Wednesday afternoon that the gun had been in a bag with a trigger lock and a key in a dresser drawer.

"Obviously, we support people's Second Amendment right to own firearms. With that comes responsibility for safe storage to keep it out of the hands of a minor," said Lt. Mike Pusatere, with the Palm Bay Police Department.

Police said Maldonado helped officers at the scene of the shooting by telling her son to turn himself in. Now, she's facing charges herself.

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Her son, whom police have not identified, will be charged with attempted murder, occupied burglary and possession of a firearm under 21.

The victims, whom police also did not identify, are expected to survive their injuries.

Maldonado is in the Brevard County Jail on $55,000 bail.

Cox Media Group