SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. – Sumter County deputies took a 16-year-old boy into custody who’s accused of killing a teen and injuring an adult in a stabbing late Saturday near Wildwood, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies responded around 10:11 p.m. to the 6600 block of County Road 148, where they located the adult and teen stabbing victims, the sheriff’s office first said on social media. Emergency medical services aided both victims at the scene before they were airlifted to area hospitals, the post states. The teen victim, described as a 15-year-old boy who was known to the suspect, was pronounced dead at 1:19 a.m. Sunday, according to an updated news release.
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The incident happened during a sleepover that the 15-year-old victim was having, the release states. The suspect — identified as Alexander Warren Hernandez — arrived unannounced, “banged” on the door and stabbed the 15-year-old after the victim unlocked it, the sheriff’s office said. The adult was stabbed after coming to inspect what was happening and a third victim there was also threatened by Hernandez, according to the release.
An investigation led to deputies identifying Hernandez, who had since run away from the scene. Hernandez was located a short time later with help from a sheriff’s office helicopter and taken into custody, held Sunday at the Sumter County Jail, the release states. The adult victim, described as a 48-year-old man, was still hospitalized in stable condition in the ICU as of Sunday afternoon, according to the sheriff’s office.
Hernandez will face charges of premeditated first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and armed burglary, the sheriff’s office said.
Both of the teens had withdrawn from Sumter County Schools and were being homeschooled, according to the sheriff’s office.
News 6 is naming and showing Hernandez due to the circumstances of the case.
In a video statement, Sumter County Undersheriff Pat Breeden provided further updates and showed images of the weapons that Hernandez allegedly used in the stabbing.
“Alexander was still in possession of the murder weapons at the time of his arrest. This was no doubt a premeditated and targeted attack. Alexander told detectives that he ordered the two weapons last Thursday online. When the weapons arrived on Saturday, he unpacked the weapons, played with him for a little bit, and then he walked nearly six miles to the victim’s residence. Alexander banged on the door, forced his way in, stabbing the two victims before fleeing the residence,” Breeden said, adding the exact motive for the attack was still being determined.
The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are under consideration, the sheriff’s office said. Anyone with any information related to the case is urged to contact the sheriff’s office at 352‐793‐2621, or Crimeline at 800‐423-8477 to remain anonymous.
Note: This map depicts the general area of the scene and not necessarily its exact location.
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