Teen found, arrested in connection to Marion County homecoming party shooting

MARION COUNTY, Fla. - Troopers arrested a teen they say attended a high school homecoming bonfire last month in Marion County and shot at a person in attendance. 

What we know:

The Marion County Sheriff's office arrested a 17-year-old male after identifying him in connection to a shooting that took place on Sept. 27. 

FOX 35 is not naming the teen or showing his mug shot due to his age.

The teen is facing charges connected to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a firearm by a minor, carrying a concealed firearm, public discharge of a firearm, and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

What happened? 

The backstory:

On Sept. 27, several people attended a bonfire for Forest High School's homecoming when a physical fight started and the suspect pulled out a gun, firing multiple shots at a person attending the party, the sheriff's office said. The person was not injured, officials said. 

Though the incident was witnessed by several people, the sheriff's office said, people at the party weren't able to identify the suspect. 

Deputies found social media video of the teen firing a gun and used a still photo from the video to assist in identifying him. Officials reached out to the public to learn more information about the alleged shooter. 

Investigators contacted the teen's parents, who identified their son as the person in the social media post, the sheriff's office said. Through the investigation, it was learned that the teen deactivated his social media accounts and expressed that he intended to leave for Dayton.  

Locating the teen

On Oct. 28, the authorities said the boy's mother took him to the Marion County Sheriff's office.

In an interview, the teen admitted to being armed with a gun at the party and that he was with someone who was in a fight with other people, the sheriff's office said. The boy said he clutched the gun at his waist when he felt outnumbered and threatened to shoot a group of people if they were to attack him, a Marion County arrest affidavit said. 

The boy said he heard gunshots, but he was not the person who fired a gun, the sheriff's office said. 

The teen also has a criminal history of carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor. 

The boy is now at the Department of Juvenile Justice.