News

Actions

Polk County detectives investigating fatal shooting of Winter Haven teen

Posted
and last updated

Polk County detectives are trying to figure out what led to the shooting death of a 14-year-old Winter Haven boy. 

At approximately 4 p.m. on Monday, deputies with the Polk County Sheriff's Office and police officers with Auburndale police department, responded to LakMar Resort Motel, located at 2520 US Highway 92 West in reference to a teen who had been shot. 

Kyler Daughtry, 14, was found in room number 9, dead from a single gunshot wound. Deputies say Daughtry lived in room number 8 at the motel. Donovan Hoover, 19, and Dylan Prosser, 16, were on scene when deputies arrived. Hoover lives in room number 9 and Prosser lives in room number 7. 

Deputies interviewed the teens at the scene. Hoover and Prosser told deputies that they went into a bedroom where Donovan Hoover showed a 12 gauge shotgun to the other two teens. He says he then left the room. Donovan told deputies he heard Dylan Prosser say "this is how you load a shotgun" and then heard a gunshot. Donovan says he ran back into the room to find Kyler Daughtry shot. 

Deputies say no one else was home at the time of the shooting and the shooting does not appear to be intentional at this point in time. 

Sheriff Grady Judd says the investigation is far from over and they're considering whether to press any criminal charges. 

"We see a lot of negligence," he said, "we see teenagers that didn't know how to handle a firearm.  They obviously loaded it and hat it pointed at one of their buddies and for whatever reason the firearm went off." 

 

He says the gun belonged to the 19 year-old's caretaker and was legally registered. 

 

Julie Lehmann, the manager at the motel says Daughtry's mom found Doughtry after he'd been shot and called for help. 

 

Lehman tried performing CPR, but says it was too late. 

 

"She's got a long road right now," she said of the teen's mom, "she's got a son she's got to bury." 

 

She says the teen's organs will be donated. 

 

"At least his life is going to give somebody else life," she said, "that is the bright spot of it." 

 

Daughtry had just returned to school from Thanksgiving break. 

 

Julie Grice, principal at Lake Alfred-Addair Middle School, where he attended released the following statement: 

 

"We are stunned and heartbroken by this tragic news. Kyler Daughtry was a sweet, loving, young man who was liked by his peers on campus; he would say 'good morning' to you every day.  He was a joy to have in our world. He was loved, and he's going to be missed. 

 

Counselors were made available to students on Tuesday and will be there through Wednesday. 

 

 

Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.

Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.

Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox.

Follow us on Twitter

Follow @abcactionnews

Like us on Facebook