The Christmas Day shooting unfolded around 4:45 p.m. at a home in the 2200 block of Okada Court, investigators said.
ORLANDO, Fla. — A 13-year-old girl died after being shot inside an Orange County home on Christmas Day, and a 15-year-old boy who told deputies the shooting was accidental was arrested on a manslaughter charge, authorities said Friday.
The case is in its earliest stage, but investigators say the sequence is clear: deputies arrived minutes after a 911 call, found the victim with a gunshot wound and rushed her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A teenage boy approached them at the scene and said he fired the shot by accident, according to the sheriff’s office. Detectives said they are still determining who brought the gun to the home, how it was stored and whether any adults will face charges related to access to the weapon.
Deputies were called to the residence near the 2200 block of Okada Court just before 4:45 p.m. Thursday. Crime scene technicians collected evidence through the night while investigators interviewed witnesses and family members. The sheriff’s office has not released the girl’s name pending next-of-kin notification. Officials also did not release the type of firearm, number of shots fired or the precise circumstances inside the home when the gun discharged. “He told deputies it was accidental,” a spokesperson said of the 15-year-old. No one else was reported injured.
The boy was taken into custody on a manslaughter charge and transported for booking. Under Florida procedure, prosecutors with the State Attorney’s Office will review the arrest and decide formal charges. Detectives are examining whether the firearm was legally owned and how the teenager accessed it. The agency said it could not discuss potential evidence, including ballistics, pending lab analysis. Investigators planned to canvass the neighborhood for cameras that may show who entered or left the home in the hours before the shooting.
The shooting came during a holiday week when families often gather in homes across Central Florida. The Okada Court block sits amid cul-de-sacs and one-story houses, a short drive from major roadways. Residents said the street was quiet most of the day, with visitors arriving for dinner and children playing in front yards. Some neighbors described hearing a single report and seeing patrol cars converge within minutes. Others said they looked out to see deputies securing the driveway with yellow tape as the sun set and temperatures dropped.
Next steps include an autopsy by the district medical examiner to determine the cause and manner of death, an initial appearance for the teen suspect before a judge and a review of any additional charges tied to gun access or evidence recovered at the scene. Authorities said they expect to release the victim’s identity after her family is notified. The sheriff’s office will provide updates when investigators complete key interviews and receive test results.
By Friday afternoon, a small line of candles and stuffed animals sat near the curb. “We’re shocked and devastated,” said a neighbor who has lived on the block for six years. Another resident described first responders moving quickly through the doorway and returning with medical equipment. “It was so still afterward,” the resident said. “Nobody knew what to say.”
As of late Friday, detectives said the investigation remains active, with no additional arrests announced. The next update is expected after the teen’s first court appearance and the medical examiner’s preliminary findings early next week.
Author note: Last updated December 26, 2025.