JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One day after gunfire broke out during a fight between two boys at a sweet 16 party at an airport hotel, a 17-year-old was arrested and charged with murder.
Police said 16-year-old Kenneth McCloud Jr. was shot and killed about 10:30 p.m. at a party attended by about 30-50 teenagers at the Clarion Hotel on Dixie Clipper Drive.
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Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Lt. Larry Schmitt said McCloud and Antonio Kilpatrick, 17, were in a dispute when Kilpatrick pulled a gun and shot McCloud several times. Police said the victim was rushed to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
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Police said several witnesses identified Kilpatrick as the gunman, and he was arrested on Sunday. Police were told Kilpatrick knew McCloud and the two had previous altercations.
Joshua Nixon, 18, was also arrested on Sunday on a charge of tampering with evidence. Police said Kilpatrick asked Nixon to dispose of the gun. According to Nixon's arrest report, he sold the gun for $125.
Police said there were chaperons at the party, but it spanned several rooms and not everyone at the event witnessed the shooting.
Domonick Bennett said he heard about the birthday party and is glad he decided not to go.
"I'm pretty wowed by it. An incident like that, the person has to be faced with the trauma afterwards," Bennett said.
Neighbors of Kilpatrick said they can't believe the teen is being accused of murder.
"I didn't know the kid; I just seen him every now and again," one neighbor said. "He didn't seem like the type of kid that would cause any problems or anything."