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Florida boy, 13, dies, 2 others remain hospitalized after large fight leaves 5 teens stabbed

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — A 13-year-old boy died Sunday morning and two other teenagers remained hospitalized after a melee broke out in a Clay County, Florida, neighborhood Saturday night resulting in at least five stabbings, WJAX reported.

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Update 3:10 p.m. EST Nov. 21: In a Sunday morning news conference, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook confirmed the stabbing death of a 13-year-old boy, who has not been identified publicly, after nine boys between the ages of 13 and 17 were involved in a “very large fight” in the front yard of a Debbie Lane home at which no adults were present.

“It’s the week of Thanksgiving and instead of being thankful, we have a family of a 13-year-old child who has to plan a burial, a funeral. That’s extremely, extremely sad. I grieve for the families,” Cook said, noting investigators are still working to determine what started the fight.

Cook stated that two 13-year-old boys were home alone at the residence at around 7:30 p.m. when four other boys, aged 10 to 14, arrived and challenged them to come outside to fight. A boy inside reportedly called friends for backup, and three boys between the ages of 13 and 17 arrived a short while later to assist.

The three newcomers then started fighting the four boys in the front yard when someone pulled out a knife and began stabbing other teenagers, at which point one of the 13-year-olds inside the home exited the house with a knife and began stabbing others, Cook stated.

The sheriff’s office responded to the residence at around 8:25 p.m. after 911 calls were placed, and five of the teenagers were transported to two area hospitals. By Sunday morning, two of the surviving victims had been discharged and two remained hospitalized, but their conditions were not immediately available, WJAX reported.

Cook also stated that the nine boys who have been identified as fight participants are cooperating with the investigation. She confirmed that the parents of all involved have been notified.

Original report: According to WJAX, the stabbing victims range in age from 13 to 17, and no adults were present at the home where the violence erupted.

The sheriff’s office had not released any suspect information by midnight.

Several of the teenagers are in critical condition, but authorities have not yet confirmed a number, WJAX reported.

This story will be updated as more details become available.