Three teenagers face felony charges after pointing what appeared to be rifles at a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office helicopter responding to reports of armed individuals walking through a residential neighborhood early Saturday morning.
Deputies Respond to Armed Suspects Report
Shortly before 1:40 a.m. Saturday, authorities received a call about three people carrying what looked like rifles near East 148th Avenue in Hillsborough County. The sheriff’s aviation unit deployed immediately to locate the suspects. When helicopter pilots spotted the three individuals, the suspects aimed the apparent firearms directly at the aircraft before fleeing into a nearby residence. Ground units arrived within minutes and ordered the teenagers to exit the home, where all three surrendered without resistance.
Investigators determined the weapons were BB guns, not actual firearms. However, the realistic appearance of the replicas prompted the serious response and subsequent charges. The three suspects—19-year-old Jertrell Hamilton and two juveniles aged 15—now face two counts each of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon. Hamilton received an additional criminal mischief charge.
Sheriff Issues Stern Warning
Sheriff Chad Chronister addressed the incident with a clear message about threatening law enforcement. Deputies must make instantaneous decisions to protect the community, he explained, and the department maintains zero tolerance for anyone aiming weapon-like objects at officers. Whether deputies patrol on the ground or monitor from the air, pointing anything resembling a rifle at them triggers an immediate response and full legal accountability. The distinction between real firearms and realistic replicas becomes irrelevant when officers face potential threats in real-time situations.
Investigation Continues
Authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The sheriff’s office has not released details about what motivated the teenagers to aim the BB guns at the helicopter or why they were walking through the neighborhood with replica weapons in the early morning hours. Officials plan to release additional information as the investigation progresses. The case highlights ongoing concerns about realistic toy weapons and their potential to create dangerous confrontations between civilians and law enforcement officers who must assess threats in split-second timeframes.
Arrest & prosecute them.
When you can’t tell if it’s real or not and actually BB guns are real. Although generally not deadly. You must treat it as a real threat. These teens must be punished.
Real or fake, pointing a firearm at a law enforcement officer is a good way to meet your maker. These kids were lucky.
“these kids were lucky” EXACTLY!
What State is Hillsborough County, in Hmmmm?
Metro area of Tampa. Florida
When you are old enough to carry a weapon and point it at anyone expect the consequences at any age. Weapons are not toys!
Ya oughta know better… its a Police Helicopter.
aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer? Give me a break
Are you saying that the charges are to severe?
They were lucky they weren’t short.
A military style rifle with a large or multiple magazines could possibly bring down the chopper
And that would not be a great ending for the police.
2 of the kids were just 15 years old. What the hell were they doing out at 1:30 in the morning. Where were the parents. Kids now a days do not have any supervision
Once again irresponbile humans making babies with no responsibilty . Charge the parents make them having to hire a lawyers.
A lot of toy guns look realistic. They’re lucky the police didn’t open fire when these not-to-bright teens pointed their BB guns at the helicopter. They’re not going to ask is that a real weapon or a fake one when their lives could’ve been in danger if it had been real rifles. I agree with Kelly – why were these 15 year-olds out at 1:30 in the morning?
they”re lucky they are still here on earth and not being buried under it. they are fortunate the cops didn’t shoot first and answer questions later and the cops would be justified
Usual suspects. They’re very fortunate they didn’t point those weapons at Officers on the ground. They would have been neutralized, rightfully so.
Or a CCW person, could have been a bad situation
Should not aim a weapon or look a like weapon at any anyone, police or person or a pet at any time. Them and their families should have to go through a intensive training course.
School training class about what could happen
I think a day or 2 in jail and a firm talking to is punishment enough I would fine their parents 500 dollars each for allowing their kids out after midnight .
We had some teenagers actually fire a rifle at our boat as we exited the last lock on the Okeechobee waterway headed to Ft. Myers. It shattered the port glass on our Tiara and narrowly missed me where I was sitting! We immediately call the poice who sent a helicopter but never found them. They ran as soon as they saw that the bullet had hit us. It could easily have been much worse. We had to restrain ourselves not to fire back at them!
A week in jail with no cell phone and TV and yes fine the parents $500 each.
Absolutely as our kids wouldn’t even think of doing things like that so parents are to blame raising brats that should spend a few days in jail so they learn as parents didnt teach them
Not all parents are good.that is where bad kids come from .same old