Two runaway children broke into a Florida house and used an AK-47 in a shootout with sheriff’s deputies.
The boy, 12, and girl, 14, found the weapons in a house in Enterprise after running away from the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home.
There were four exchanges of gunfire over 35 minutes and Volusia County sheriff’s office said the girl was shot and wounded after pointing a shotgun at them.
“The 12-year-old boy, armed with an AK-47, finally put down his weapon shortly thereafter and was not injured,” a statement said.
A helicopter circled overhead as authorities moved in
“Deputies did everything they could tonight to de-escalate, and they almost lost their lives to a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old,” said Volusia County sheriff Mike Chitwood.
The house contained an AK-47 assault rifle, a handgun, shotgun and around 200 rounds of ammunition.
The children ran away from the home on Tuesday afternoon and members of the public raised the alarm after hearing breaking glass at the house.
Officers surrounded the property and it was then that the shootout began.
Officers surrounded the house after passers-by raised the alarm
The girl underwent surgery and is in a stable condition and no sheriff’s deputies were hurt, authorities said.
Unspecified charges are being brought against the children.