ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – After prosecutors announced on Monday they will try a 15-year-old as an adult for the shooting and killing of another teen, an Orlando mentoring program is stepping up to help keep young people in school and out of jail.
Daniel Ings, founder of the Boys2Men Mentoring Program, says their mission is to teach teens how to de-escalate conflicts before making costly, life-changing decisions.
“I wanted to stop the bus that was going from the schoolhouse to the jailhouse,” said Ings.
[WATCH: Juvenile detained after fatal Orlando shooting, deputies say]
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, 15-year-old Jacori Redding is accused of shooting and killing a 16-year-old boy near Oak Ridge High School last month. During a news conference at the time, the sheriff said two sophomores got into a disagreement over a bump in the hallway, a dispute that tragically turned deadly. Redding is now being tried as an adult.
“To hear that a bump in the hallway led to this — very shocking. But kids are angry now,” Ings said.
For the past nine years, Boys2Men has mentored nearly 400 boys in Orange County. This year alone, Ings says the program is working with 150 students, helping them process emotions and make better decisions.
“Those are the skills we’re teaching — how to self-regulate, how to de-escalate, what to do to stay out of that red zone when you feel triggered,” Ings explained.“If they do get triggered, we tell them to take a walk, find a calm space, listen to music, or talk to a responsible adult.”
The program focuses on teaching communication, emotional intelligence, and helping teens explore potential career paths — reminding them that life is not a game where you get a do-over.
[WATCH: Teen suspect, victim in Orlando shooting had run-in at school, sheriff says]
“Just stop and think for a moment — if I move forward based on my emotions, what could happen? Could it be incarceration? Could I get arrested? Could I lose my life?” said Ings.
On Wednesday, Boys2Men will have a ribbon-cutting to launch its new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math (STEAM) initiative to inspire students to pursue success in school and beyond.
Those interested in getting involved or supporting the program can visit b2morlando.org