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Toddler shot and killed in Palm Coast home, 'person of interest' detained

Deputies detained a 21-year-old as the "primary person of interest," but eight others in the home when the child was shot are also being investigated.

PALM COAST, Fla. — An 18-month-old girl was shot in the head and killed Sunday, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. 

A person of interest has been detained after the shooting in a Palm Coast home.

Deputies responded to a home on Ranwood Lane after receiving a frantic 911 call at approximately 11:45 p.m. Sunday, officials say.

When deputies arrived, they found a 18-month-old with a gunshot wound to the head, according to a Sheriff's Office news release.

Deputies and first responders performed life-saving measures and took the child to a hospital, but she was ultimately pronounced dead upon arrival. 

Sheriff Rick Staly said at a press conference Monday that 21-year-old C.J. Nelson is the "primary person of interest" in the ongoing investigation, but eight people, including the child's mother, were in the home at the time of the shooting and all are being investigated. 

"All eight people inside the house have not been totally cooperative," Staly said. "We are not ruling anyone out in that house, but we have a primary person of interest." 

Nelson hasn't been charged in the toddler's death, but was arrested for violation of probation for a "gun-related offense and was not allowed to be in possession of any weapons," Staly said. He was booked into the Flagler County Jail Monday.

Staly said the firearm used in the shooting is an "American tactical multi-caliber assault pistol." Investigators are also trying to figure out if the gun was legally owned.

"The child did not touch the firearm. The child is an innocent victim," said Staly. 

420 grams of marijuana and 11 grams of a "white powdery substance" were seized from the home after the incident, but investigators "do not believe this case is drug-related, at this point," according to Staly.

“This is a tragic situation, and we offer our condolences to the family and friends of this little girl. This was a young life cut way too short,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. 

“While God has a new little angel, we will investigate this incident along with the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Investigation Unit until all facts are known. There is no threat to the community. The incident was contained inside this residence and all persons present or involved have been identified.”

"This case may not be solved in the next 24, 48 hours, but we will get to the bottom of this, and we will hold somebody accountable for the death of an 18-month-old child," Staly said. 

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