Background: News footage of the scene at the Pine Hills, Fla., home where Emony Nicole Jackson was killed on Dec. 25 (WKMG). Inset: Emony Nicole Jackson (Facebook).

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported, as covered by local Fox station WOFL, that a 15-year-old boy has been charged with manslaughter in the death of 13-year-old Emony Nicole Jackson. Due to his age, the boy’s identity remains undisclosed. Authorities stated that while deputies were on the scene in Pine Hills, Florida, on the night of December 25, the boy approached them and admitted to being the shooter, claiming it was an accident.

The shooting took place at 4:45 p.m. on Christmas Day, according to police. Emony was rushed to the hospital by first responders but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The teenage boy, who confessed to deputies at the scene, was subsequently arrested. Details surrounding the events leading up to the shooting have not been disclosed, and the nature of the relationship between the two teens remains unknown.

Emony’s family and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil on Saturday to honor her memory. Her aunt, Cynthia Williams, expressed skepticism to local NBC affiliate WESH regarding the boy’s claim that the shooting was accidental. She remarked, “In my eyes, there can never be an accident like that,” emphasizing the family’s desire for justice.

Tremaine Henderson, Emony’s cousin, also spoke to WESH, highlighting the family’s previous hardships, including the loss of Emony’s mother and younger sister in 2017. He reflected on Emony’s resilience, saying, “She faced many challenges in her life, but she turned those lemons into lemonade.”

Tremaine Henderson, Emony’s cousin, told WESH that the family had already mourned the loss of Emony’s mother and younger sister in 2017. The 13-year-old, Henderson said, “went through a lot in her life. But the lemons she was given, she made lemonade out of it.”

WESH reported that the middle schooler was looking forward to high school and wanted to become a cheerleader. Henderson said, “She had goals. She would never get to go to prom. She would never get to go to college.”

The alleged shooting is still being investigated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.