ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WFTV) – A 15-year-old student in Orange County is facing serious charges after authorities say a brief hallway encounter at school escalated into a fatal shooting.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began when a 16-year-old student allegedly bumped into the suspect, identified as Jacori Redding, at Oak Ridge High School and did not apologize. Investigators said the minor confrontation led to plans for a fight later that day at a nearby basketball court.
Sheriff John Mina stated that the argument quickly turned deadly when Redding allegedly shot and killed 16-year-old Pinien Dalmacy. “I’m really angry that something as small as bumping into someone in the halls of a high school — something that we have all done — has now turned into a deadly shooting of a 16-year-old,” Mina said during a press briefing.
Redding, who was already facing trial for grand theft auto, was taken into custody shortly after the shooting. Deputies said he returned to the school with the firearm before being detained. He is currently being held in juvenile detention and charged with the killing of his classmate.
During his court appearance on Friday, witnesses said Redding appeared calm and even smiled toward his family as they called out to him.
Authorities are still investigating how the 15-year-old obtained the gun used in the shooting.
School district officials confirmed that Dalmacy had enrolled in Orange County Public Schools just last year.
The investigation remains ongoing.
