Polk County

14-year-old fatally stabs boyfriend following argument, police say

AUBURNDALE, Fla. — A 14-year-old is behind bars on Saturday after fatally stabbing his 18-year-old boy, Auburndale police said.

Police said they responded to the intersection of Lime Street and Charles Avenue at 11:54 p.m. Friday for a report of a person lying in the road.

When police arrived, they found the victim, 18-year-old Zachary Jorden-Lee Brown, with two stab wounds.

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The victim was treated by Polk County Fire Rescue and transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to the police report, the suspect, 14-year-old Jerome Zacarez, ran home to call 911, leaving a trail of bloody footprints.

Police said the suspect returned to the scene to render aid, and was still at the scene when police arrived.

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According to police, Zacarez and Brown had been in a relationship for about nine months at the time of the attack.

The two were at the minor’s house Friday night to drink alcohol when the two got into an argument outside, police said.

Zacarez told police that they got into an argument about something but could not remember, and during the argument Brown closed Zacarez’s finger in a car door.

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According to police, the teen went home to treat his injury, and that is when he grabbed a knife from the kitchen and returned to confront Brown about the previous argument.

Zacarez told police that he did not remember exactly what happened other than he stabbed Brown in the arm, and maybe his chest.

Brown was later found to have cuts to both his arm, and upper chest, that were consistent with being stabbed by a knife police said.

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This is an ongoing investigation.

Auburndale police ask anyone with information on the case to call 863-965-5555 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).

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