COCOA, Fla. – A 17-year-old boy is recovering after being shot in the head during a confrontation at a Cocoa mobile home park, police said.
The shooting occurred Monday evening in the Sunrise Village Mobile Home Park along Kimberly Street. The teen victim was taken to a hospital but has since been released and is expected to recover, according to his family.
Cocoa police have arrested two suspects in connection with the shooting: 20-year-old Gavin Neal and 17-year-old Michael McNeely. Both are facing charges of attempted murder.
According to investigators, Neal and McNeely were walking through the neighborhood when they encountered the 17-year-old victim and his friend, who were driving around in a family vehicle.
“They just wanted to drive around the neighborhood in the family car,” a police spokesperson said. “The two suspects were on foot, thought they were being followed, and a confrontation started.”
Police said that after the boys stopped driving, the victim began walking home. At that point, detectives said McNeely handed Neal a gun, and Neal fired several shots. One of the bullets struck the victim in the head.
“Then, when they were done driving around the neighborhood, the victim is walking home, and another confrontation occurs. That’s when the shots were fired,” police said.
James Council, whose son was standing nearby at the time, told News 6 that the shooting could have taken both teens’ lives.
“He’s just like a son to me,” Council said. “I don’t know what I would have done. They’ve been friends since elementary school.”
The victim’s mother, who did not want to speak on camera, said her son is fortunate to have survived.
She also expressed ongoing concern for her son’s safety, adding he’s been released from the hospital.
A Cocoa police spokesperson said the shooting highlights a troubling escalation in how young people are resolving conflicts.
“Maybe it’s the times we’re living in right now, but it’s frightening to think that they would just settle the score of an argument with gun violence,” the spokesperson said.
Neal is being held without bond at the Brevard County Jail. McNeely is being held in juvenile custody.