- April 25, 2024
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A 19-year-old man stabbed a 15-year-old in the chest with a pocketknife at Holland Park on Sunday, Jan. 17, after an argument that began on social media, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
The 15-year-old was airlifted to an Orlando hospital for treatment for his injuries, which are not believed to be life-threatening. Deputies arrested the 19-year-old, Palm Coast resident Jared Douglas.
“This situation should have never escalated to the point of a juvenile needing to be airlifted to the hospital for a stab wound over a social media fight! Really?” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in an FCSO news release. “Thankfully, this was an isolated incident and our team did a great job in quickly pulling resources, videos, and interviewing witnesses to track down the suspects and take the defendant into custody. We hope the victim has a speedy recovery. Parents, talk to your kids and teach them that violence is not a solution to an argument.”
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies had responded to a call about a stabbing at the park at about 6:30 p.m., and arrived to find the 15-year-old victim bleeding from the chest.
Witnesses said that the 15-year-old had been arguing with a teenage girl on Snapchat about "sexual allegations" over the past week, according to a Flagler County Sheriff's Office report. At some point, one person involved in the chat — the names are redacted in the FCSO's arrest report — threatened to stab one of the others if they crossed paths.
The 15-year-old was at the park when the girl and two other people — Douglas and another male — drove up in a red convertible. The girl and the 15-year-old got into an argument, then began shoving each other, then fighting.
Douglas jumped into the fight, pulled a knife and stabbed the 15-year-old in the lower chest.
The 15-year-old screamed out and said, "He just stabbed me," and witnesses broke up the fight. Douglas, the other male and the girl fled in the convertible, according to an FCSO arrest report.
Deputies got the car's tag number from witness statements and surveillance camera footage.
Douglas was the car's registered owner, and deputies found a Blare Castle Drive, Palm Coast address associated with the car, which was parked outside when they arrived.
Several people tried to run out of the house as deputies began setting up a perimeter, but deputies caught them, according to the arrest report.
One of the witnesses said Douglas had told other people at the house to hide the knife. Deputies found it.
Douglas was charged with Aggravated Battery with Permanent Disfigurement while Armed and booked at the county jail where he is being held on a $25,000 bond, according to the FCSO new release.
