There are plenty of questionable decisions you can make at nearly two o’clock in the morning. Walking through a neighborhood carrying what appear to be rifles is already near the top of the list.
Looking up at a police helicopter and pointing those apparent rifles directly at it somehow manages to make the situation even worse. That’s exactly what three Florida teenagers are accused of doing over the weekend.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, what started as a call in Lutz quickly turned into a response involving both deputies on the ground and the agency’s Aviation Unit. By the end of it, three suspects had been taken into custody and were facing felony charges.
The biggest surprise came after deputies recovered the weapons. Investigators determined they weren’t actual rifles at all, but BB guns that apparently looked convincing enough to trigger a major law enforcement response.
The Aviation Unit Got an Unwelcome Surprise
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We reposted the video to the Guessing Headlights YouTube channel, where we condensed the content for easier viewing. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office video, deputies responded to the area of East 148th Avenue in Lutz at approximately 1:40 am on July 11 after receiving a prowler call. Before units even arrived, the caller reported seeing three individuals walking through the neighborhood carrying what appeared to be rifles.
The Aviation Unit was dispatched to assist with the search from above and quickly located the three individuals. Investigators say the group responded by pointing the apparent firearms directly at the helicopter before entering a nearby residence.
That immediately escalated the situation, with deputies moving in on the home and ordering everyone inside to come out. Authorities identified the suspects as 19-year-old Jertrell Hamilton, 15-year-old Javis Hamilton, and 15-year-old Brayden Eason.
Fortunately, deputies say all three complied with commands and exited the residence without incident. During the investigation, officers determined that the weapons involved were actually BB guns rather than real firearms.
BB Guns Didn’t Make the Situation Any Better
That distinction, however, didn’t change the seriousness of the allegations. From the perspective of deputies and the helicopter crew, there was no way to immediately determine whether the weapons were real.
Sheriff Chad Chronister addressed the incident in a statement, saying, “Our deputies make split-second decisions every day to protect this community, and we have zero tolerance for anyone who points what appears to be a weapon at them, whether they’re on the ground or in the air. If you aim what looks like a rifle at one of our deputies or our Aviation Unit, expect our immediate response and to be held fully accountable for your actions.”
All three suspects were arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains active, with any additional information expected to come from its Public Affairs Office.