16-year-old arrested in shooting at Cocoa park

14-year-old victim taken to hospital

COCOA, Fla. – A 16-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday on a charge of attempted murder after another boy was shot at a park in Cocoa, according to authorities.

Cocoa police said Adorian Ferguson, who attends Rockledge High School, was arrested at his home after several witnesses said he shot the other boy several times Tuesday night at Carl E. Anderson Park.

The 14-year-old victim, whose name has not been released, was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition, police said.

"Fortunately, he's in stable condition and will recover," said Cocoa Police spokesperson Yvonne Martinez.
"It's not a random act. It was very much a targeted act."

Police say Ferguson was driven to Anderson Park, rolled down his window and immediately began shooting at the 14-year-old.

Dispatch recordings show the teen being shot at least four times.

"It's always troubling when you have this kind of violence and especially magnified here because the victim and the suspect are both so young," said Martinez.

The motive for the shooting remains unclear, police said.

Detectives said the teens know each other.

An investigation is ongoing.


About the Author:

James joined News 6 in March 2016 as the Brevard County Reporter. His arrival was the realization of a three-year effort to return to the state where his career began. James is from Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State in 2009 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.