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House guest allegedly attacks, stabs 11-year-old because he was talking in his sleep

Posted at 1:50 PM, Oct 31, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-31 17:14:02-04

An 11-year-old was critically injured after being attacked by a 24-year-old who was upset because he couldn't go to sleep.

Detectives say the suspect, Colton Driggers, was sleeping on the couch as a temporary guest at the home, and the 11-year-old was also sleeping on the couch.

Driggers reportedly became angry when he couldn't go to sleep because the boy was talking in his sleep. At that time, deputies say he attacked the boy, beating him while he lay on the couch.

The boy's mother intervened, and the boy ran into the garage. Driggers followed and noticed he was wearing a Florida Sheriff Youth Ranch Summer Camp shirt.

He allegedly told the boy he hated cops and became even more enraged, and made the boy take off the shirt before he started beating him again.

The mother was able to get a dog to attack Driggers, which allowed her son to escape into the street. As they were trying to get to a neighbor's home for help, Driggers tackled them in the driveway of a home, where he then stabbed the boy three times in the upper torso.

Driggers left the scene and the mother was able to get the boy to a home and call 911. 

The suspect was spotted shortly after walking his dog, and was soon captured by Sebring Police Department and had to be wrestled into custody.

Driggers was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated child abuse, battery, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence. He is being held without bond.