Girl, 17, Wounded After A Political Argument At A Deltona Party Ends In Gunfire

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Deltona, FL - A 17-year-old girl was shot in the leg at a birthday party in Deltona on Saturday night when her stepfather pulled a gun on his brother-in-law during a heated political debate. The victim was rushed to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford with non-life-threatening injuries after the shooting, which happened at around 9:50 PM on Saturday at 3244 Shingler Terrace. The shooter, 41-year-old Jose Amaro, was arrested without incident. He had stayed on scene after the shooting to treat the victim's wound. The shooting happened during a party at Amaro's house. Several family members and children were present. According to the incident report, Amaro and his brother-in-law, also a 41-year-old man from Deltona, were talking "about politics, Trump, and the situation in Puerto Rico." Everyone involved had been drinking and appeared intoxicated. The argument escalated and Amaro got angry, shoved his brother-in-law, went inside the house and grabbed a handgun. Other party-goers tried to restrain Amaro, but he fired a single shot out into the yard before a witness tackled him. That stray bullet hit his step-daughter in the right knee. Amaro has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Officials say Amaro has two prior felony convictions out of New Jersey. As of Sunday, Amaro was being held at the Volusia County Jail without bond.

(Amaro's mugshot courtesy the Volusia County Jail)

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