Teen Arrested After Innocent Bystander Shot at Brandon Apartment Complex

A 17-year-old has been arrested after an innocent bystander was struck by gunfire at a Brandon apartment complex, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

The shooting occurred on August 12, 2026, at an apartment complex on Landon Preserve Circle. Investigators said the teenager was allegedly firing at a group of people when a bystander who had no connection to either group was shot in the arm.

What We Know About the Brandon Apartment Shooting

Hillsborough County deputies responded to the 1200 block of Landon Preserve Circle at approximately 9:03 p.m. after receiving reports of gunfire.

When deputies arrived, they found a victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm.

The injured person was transported to a local hospital with injuries that authorities described as non-life-threatening.

According to investigators, the victim was not involved in the confrontation that led to the shooting.

Detectives allege that the 17-year-old fired a gun toward another group of people in the area. One of the bullets instead struck the unrelated bystander.

Teen Arrested Following Investigation

Deputies identified and arrested the teenager on August 13, one day after the shooting.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the 17-year-old faces several charges, including:

• Attempted second-degree murder with a firearm
• Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon
• Possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony
• Improper exhibition of a dangerous weapon or firearm
• Discharging a firearm in public or on residential property
• Minor in possession of a firearm

The charges are allegations, and the teen is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The sheriff’s office said its investigation remains active.

Innocent Bystanders Can Suffer Life-Changing Injuries From Gun Violence

Although authorities described the victim’s injuries as non-life-threatening, gunshot wounds can still result in significant medical expenses, pain, lost income and lasting physical complications.

The fact that a victim was simply in the wrong place when violence erupted does not necessarily mean that the only potential source of recovery is the person accused of firing the weapon.

When shootings occur at apartment complexes, nightclubs, stores and other properties, questions can sometimes arise about whether reasonable security measures were in place.

Can an Apartment Complex Be Liable for a Shooting in Florida?

Not every shooting at an apartment complex creates liability for the property owner or management company.

However, Florida property owners and operators may have legal responsibilities to take reasonable measures to protect lawful visitors and residents from foreseeable criminal activity under certain circumstances.

Whether an apartment complex could potentially bear responsibility depends heavily on the facts.

An investigation may examine issues such as prior violent incidents at the property, previous reports of weapons or criminal activity, security measures in place at the time, lighting, gates and access controls, surveillance systems, security personnel and whether management had notice of dangerous conditions.

There is currently no information indicating that the owners or managers of the Brandon apartment complex were negligent or that inadequate security contributed to this shooting.

Negligent Security Claims Require a Separate Investigation

A criminal investigation focuses primarily on identifying the person responsible for committing the crime.

A civil negligent security investigation can involve different questions.

For example, attorneys investigating a shooting at an apartment complex may seek incident reports, police call records, surveillance footage, security contracts, property policies, maintenance records and documentation of prior complaints or crimes.

That evidence can help determine whether the shooting was reasonably foreseeable and whether additional security precautions should have been taken.

Potential Compensation for an Innocent Shooting Victim

If another person’s wrongful conduct or a property owner’s negligence contributed to a shooting, an injured victim may potentially have the right to pursue compensation.

Depending on the circumstances, damages could include medical expenses, future medical treatment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, scarring, disability and psychological harm associated with the incident.

Whether any civil claim exists in this case would depend on evidence developed through a separate investigation.

Preserving Evidence After an Apartment Complex Shooting

Evidence can disappear quickly following a shooting, particularly surveillance recordings that may be automatically overwritten.

Potentially important evidence may include surveillance footage from the apartment complex and nearby properties, photographs and videos, witness statements, 911 recordings, prior incident reports, security records and communications involving property management.

Preserving this information can help establish both what happened during the shooting and whether other circumstances contributed to the victim’s injuries.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Continues Investigation

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation into the Brandon apartment shooting remains active.

Authorities allege that the 17-year-old fired toward another group of people and unintentionally struck a bystander who had no connection to the confrontation. The victim was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the arm and is expected to survive.

The teenager was arrested the following day and now faces multiple felony and firearm-related charges.

We wish the injured victim a full and speedy recovery.