Crime
Incident in Lee County Raises Concerns Over Handling of Assault on Teenage Girls
According to Barrett, officials told her that the girls “chose to jump out of the golf cart,” implying that the boy cannot be held responsible for their injuries.
Lee County, Florida — A traumatic incident involving a group of teenage girls in Lee County has left one girl hospitalized with severe injuries and another with a broken foot, sparking outrage over the response by authorities and emergency medical personnel.
According to Ambree Barrett, who reached out to Channel2 NOW to share her account, her daughter and her daughter’s best friend were driving a golf cart near their community, as they often do. The girls were accompanied by a friend, who brought along another individual they didn’t know well. Allegedly, this individual had been having ongoing issues with a boy who had been terrorizing her in the Babcock Ranch area.
The boy, upon seeing the girl on the golf cart, reportedly pursued the group in his car. During the chase, he lit a firework and threw it into the moving golf cart. The girls, fearing for their safety, jumped out of the vehicle to avoid being injured.
One of the girls, Kaia, sustained multiple fractures to her skull, a brain bleed, and a burn mark on her back from the firework. She remains in the trauma unit, suffering from a traumatic brain injury and significant pain. Her friend, who was driving the golf cart, suffered a broken foot, along with scratches and bruises. She has since been hospitalized twice due to seizures related to her injuries.
Adding to the family’s distress, Barrett shared that her daughter has cystic fibrosis, a condition that has been exacerbated by the physical and emotional toll of the incident.
Barrett alleges that when emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and firefighters arrived on the scene, they dismissed the severity of the girls’ injuries. She stated that EMTs told the girls they were “fine” and to find their own transportation to the hospital.
“I was on video chat with my daughter, and I could hear her screaming in pain while holding her head,” Barrett said. Despite this, EMTs reportedly told her daughter and her friend to walk, even though the friend had a broken foot.
The girls’ parents eventually transported them to the hospital, where Kaia was immediately transferred via ambulance, with lights and sirens, to a trauma center.
The boy accused of throwing the firework has been identified by multiple community members as Matthew Lopez, Gavin Wolf and Aiden Giordana, but Barrett claims that Lee County authorities have stated they cannot press charges.
According to Barrett, officials told her that the girls “chose to jump out of the golf cart,” implying that the boy cannot be held responsible for their injuries.
Barrett further alleges that the boy and his associates have a history of criminal behavior, including stealing cars, fighting law enforcement, and harassing young girls. She has received messages from other parents recounting their own negative experiences with the boy but notes that many are afraid to speak out due to fears of retaliation.
Barrett expressed frustration and disbelief over the lack of accountability and the handling of the situation. “How can these boys continue to terrorize the neighborhood simply because they are minors?” she questioned.
She also highlighted the disparity between the kindness and rule-abiding nature of her daughter and her friend compared to the violent behavior of the accused. “My daughter doesn’t bother anyone. She naturally follows the rules and respects everyone around her,” Barrett said.
Barrett is calling on Lee County officials to reevaluate the case and take appropriate legal action against those responsible. She also urges improvements in emergency medical response protocols to ensure that victims receive immediate and adequate care in similar situations.
For now, Kaia’s family is focused on her recovery while navigating the uncertainty and potential long-term effects of her injuries. The case, which has drawn significant community attention, remains a sobering reminder of the need for accountability and justice in protecting vulnerable individuals.
If you have information about this incident, you are encouraged to contact Lee County authorities and reference case #24-660516. Community members are also urged to report any incidents of harassment or violence to help prevent future occurrences.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed Friday afternoon in a parking lot outside a Little Caesars restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
The victim has been named as Stevens Jeffrey, 29, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of West Cermak Road near Rockwell Street at approximately 1:10 p.m., according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Preliminary reports indicate that Jeffrey was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by an unknown vehicle.
An armed individual exited that vehicle and opened fire, striking Jeffrey multiple times in the face and body.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene, where Jeffrey was pronounced dead. He was discovered inside his vehicle with his two young children, ages 4 and 6, who were unharmed.
Both children were transported to Stroger Hospital for precautionary evaluation.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a Little Caesars restaurant, where investigators recovered multiple shell casings and placed numerous evidence markers on the ground.
As of Friday evening, no suspects are in custody, and detectives from the CPD Area Four Homicide Unit are leading the investigation. Police have not released information on a possible motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this homicide to contact Chicago Police or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTip.com.