Deputies say a 15-year-old told them the gunfire was accidental and was arrested.
PINE HILLS, FL — A 13-year-old girl died after she was shot on Christmas Day at a home in Pine Hills, and a 15-year-old boy was arrested on a manslaughter charge after telling deputies the shooting was accidental, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.
The death of Emony Nicole Jackson capped a holiday afternoon that neighbors described as suddenly frantic, with patrol cars and investigators converging on a quiet residential corner. Authorities have not said what led to the shooting or how the teen got access to a gun, and they have released few details as the investigation continues.
Deputies were called about 4:45 p.m. Thursday to the 2200 block of Okada Court after a report of a person who had been shot, the sheriff’s office said. The address is in Pine Hills, an unincorporated community west of Orlando. Jackson was found suffering from a gunshot wound and was rushed to a hospital, where she died, deputies said.
A 15-year-old who was at the scene approached deputies and told them he was responsible for the shooting and said it was an accident, the sheriff’s office said. He was taken into custody and booked on a manslaughter charge. Because the suspect is a juvenile, authorities have not identified him publicly. Investigators have also not said whether the two teens were relatives, friends, or acquaintances, or whether adults were home at the time.
At the home, investigators worked into the evening as neighbors watched from sidewalks and driveways. A WESH-TV crew on scene reported neighbors saying the shooting happened in a backyard area and that they heard a single shot before law enforcement arrived. The same report described a large presence of sheriff’s deputies around the property as detectives searched for evidence and tried to piece together what happened in the moments before the gunfire.
Authorities have not said what type of firearm was involved, whether it was legally owned, or where it was stored before the shooting. They also have not said whether the gun discharged during handling, during an argument, or during some other activity. Those details are often central to accidental-shooting investigations, but deputies said Friday that no additional information was being released.
Under Florida law, a manslaughter charge generally involves causing a death through actions that prosecutors argue were reckless or showed a lack of care for human life. In cases involving juveniles, the legal path can vary. A case may begin in juvenile court, and prosecutors can sometimes seek to move certain serious cases into adult court depending on age, circumstances, and charging decisions. The sheriff’s office has not said what steps prosecutors might take here or when a first court appearance could happen.
Christmas week shootings involving young people have drawn attention across Central Florida, adding to a sense of unease during what is typically a family-focused time of year. WESH reported that other teen shootings occurred in the region around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, including separate cases involving 17-year-olds in Deltona and elsewhere in Orange County. Those incidents are not connected to Jackson’s death, but they have contributed to renewed scrutiny on youth access to firearms and the risks when guns are present around teens.
Pine Hills, a community of neighborhoods and small commercial corridors, has long struggled with periodic violence alongside efforts by residents, churches, and local leaders to reduce crime and improve safety. The area around Okada Court has drawn law enforcement attention before. Earlier this year, deputies responded to the same block of Okada Court for a separate shooting that left two adults hospitalized in critical condition, according to a report from WESH. The sheriff’s office said at the time there were no outstanding suspects, and it described that incident as domestic.
Those earlier calls illustrate the challenge investigators face in shootings that happen at homes, where firearms may be accessible and where witnesses may be limited to family members or nearby residents who hear, rather than see, what occurs. In the Christmas Day case, authorities have not said how many people were present at the Okada Court home or whether anyone else will face charges. They also have not said whether the suspect’s statement has been corroborated by physical evidence, witness interviews, or forensic analysis.
For neighbors, the most immediate reality was the sudden loss of a child on a day associated with celebration. Several residents lingered outside as deputies taped off parts of the property and moved in and out of the home. Some spoke quietly about children playing in the area and about the shock of seeing a teenager taken away in handcuffs. In the absence of official details, residents said they were left trying to understand how a holiday gathering or ordinary visit could end in a fatal gunshot.
Investigators typically work to reconstruct a shooting scene by collecting the firearm, documenting where people were standing, and analyzing trajectory and gunshot residue. They also review phone records, messages, and any available video from doorbell cameras or nearby homes. The sheriff’s office has not said publicly what evidence has been recovered in Jackson’s case, but deputies confirmed Friday that the investigation remained active.
How the case proceeds may depend on decisions by prosecutors, including whether the suspect is formally charged in juvenile court, whether any additional charges are filed, and what conditions are imposed while the case is pending. Authorities have not announced any upcoming briefing, and they have not released an incident report detailing the events that led up to the shooting. For now, the public record consists mainly of the sheriff’s office timeline and the charge listed at the time of arrest.
Jackson’s death also leaves a family grieving as the community absorbs another loss of a young life. Friends and neighbors said the neighborhood was still decorated for the holidays, with lights and inflatable figures visible along the street, a contrast to the flashing patrol lights and the somber mood outside the home. On Friday, the scene had quieted, but questions remained about the moments before the gun fired and the decisions that led to a child’s death.
Deputies said they were continuing to investigate the Christmas Day shooting and were not releasing further details Friday. The next major milestone is expected to be the suspect’s first court proceeding and any charging decision from prosecutors as investigators complete interviews and forensic work.
Author note: Last updated December 26, 2025.