Police: 2 men arrested after kids chased with rifle in Homestead

Boy had accidentally struck Camaro while throwing football, police say

From left: Quinton Malik Nelson and Giovanni Robert Lebrun. (Miami-Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation)

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Two men have been arrested after two children were chased down with a rifle in Homestead after one of them accidentally struck a car with a football, authorities said.

According to the suspects’ arrest reports, the incident occurred at about 5:50 p.m. last Monday, Nov. 25, in the area of Southeast 24th Road and 11th Street.

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The suspects, Giovanni Robert Lebrun, 20, and Quinton Malik Nelson, 18, both of Homestead, were arrested Wednesday on charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, displaying a firearm while committing a felony and child abuse without great bodily harm. Nelson also faces a kidnapping charge.

Homestead police said a 13-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were playing with a football when the boy threw the ball at the girl.

Police said the ball struck the girl, hit the ground and then struck a black Camaro that was driving by.

According to the arrest reports, the vehicle stopped and both Nelson and Lebrun got out of the vehicle.

Police said Nelson, who had been sitting in the front passenger seat, chased the children while holding a rifle and yelled at them, “If you run, I am going to shoot you!”

According to his arrest report, the girl told police that Nelson eventually caught up to her and made her walk around with him as he looked for the boy who threw the ball.

Police said Nelson was unable to find the boy and the two men eventually left the area.

The incident was captured on surveillance video and police were able to obtain the tag of the vehicle, according to the arrest reports.

Police said the Camaro came back to Lebrun, so police went to his home and transported him to the police station, where he provided a statement to detectives. His statement was redacted from the publicly released report.

According to the arrest reports, the female victim identified Nelson in a photo lineup as the man who forced her to walk around the area with him while he was armed with a gun.

Police said Lebrun confirmed that he had dropped off Nelson after the incident at a home.

Authorities said the clothing Nelson was wearing that day and the gun used were found inside the residence.

Police said Nelson was transported to the police station and invoked his rights.

As of Monday, both suspects were no longer appearing in the jail database.


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Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

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