What began as a terrifying 911 call about shots being fired in a wooded area ended with three teenagers caught on camera, desperately trying to ditch firearms in a park.
The 911 Call
Late in the afternoon, Hillsborough County dispatchers received a chilling call. A man reported that he had been shot at while walking near a wooded area in Dover. Fearing for his life, he described the terrifying sound of bullets whizzing past him.
Deputies rushed to the scene immediately.
The Suspicious Movement
When deputies arrived near Dover Park, their attention was quickly drawn to three teens moving nervously through the area. Bodycam footage shows the trio looking over their shoulders before tossing objects into the bushes.
Those “objects” turned out to be firearms.
The Confrontation
Deputies moved in quickly, ordering the teens to the ground. What unfolded next was captured entirely on camera:
- One teen tried to walk away casually, pretending he wasn’t involved.
- Another insisted the guns weren’t theirs.
- The third teen grew visibly nervous, muttering under his breath as officers searched the area.
But the deputies weren’t buying it. Within minutes, they recovered multiple firearms hidden just feet away.
The Arrest
All three teens were taken into custody. The charges they now face include:
- Possession of a firearm by a minor
- Tampering with evidence
- And potentially more if investigators link them to the earlier shots fired.
“This could have ended tragically,” a sheriff’s spokesperson said. “The quick response of deputies likely prevented someone from being seriously hurt.”
The Aftermath
The video has since gone viral online, sparking debate about youth crime and gun violence. Many are shocked not just by the teens’ actions, but by how casually they seemed to throw the guns away, as if it would erase the danger.
Community leaders are calling for stronger interventions to keep guns out of teenagers’ hands, while law enforcement continues to investigate whether the trio was connected to other incidents in the area.
👉 WATCH the dramatic bodycam footage of deputies catching the teens in the act of ditching the weapons.