CLEARWATER, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is putting organizers of so-called “teen takeovers” on notice after a 17-year-old was shot during a large gathering at Clearwater Beach.
In a post on X, Uthmeier wrote: “Whoever is organizing these ‘teen takeovers,’ congrats: you have my attention. This behavior is unacceptable, and I’m having our Statewide Prosecutors develop a plan to investigate and prosecute those who are responsible for these events. Stay tuned. More to come.”
The post came after Clearwater police said a 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the Sunday shooting.
Police identified the suspect as Noel Marsh III. He was arrested Monday night at his home in Haines City and charged with attempted second-degree murder, discharging a firearm in public and unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor.
The shooting happened around 5:15 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of Coronado Drive during what police described as a planned social media gathering that drew hundreds of teenagers to Clearwater Beach.
The 17-year-old victim was taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital with gunshot wounds to his leg, arm and chest. Police said his injuries were not life-threatening.
Clearwater Deputy Police Chief Michael Walek said the shooting was not random and involved two groups that knew each other.
“This senseless act of violence occurred between two groups known to one another,” Walek said. “A dispute started between the two about a month ago in Winter Haven. On Sunday, there was a fight earlier in the day that occurred before the shooting.”
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Police said the victim told detectives the dispute was tied to social media and party-related rivalries.
Investigators believe Marsh fired seven shots. Police said Marsh refused to speak with detectives after his arrest.
A second teen, a 17-year-old from Brandon, was also arrested after police said he ran from the scene. He was charged with obstructing or resisting an officer without violence, unlawful carry of a concealed firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor under 18. Police said he was not the shooter.
In a news conference on May 31, 2026, Clearwater Deputy Police Chief Michael Walek said hundreds of people “described as a spring break” gathered at the 100 block of Coronado Drive during a “teen takeover.” (Clearwater Police Department)
Authorities said many of the teens involved in the Clearwater Beach gathering came from outside Clearwater, including Hillsborough and Polk counties.
Walek said Clearwater police had been monitoring the planned gathering on social media and assigned additional resources before the event. Still, he said the situation escalated quickly.
Since Dec. 31, 2025, Clearwater police said their threat management unit has identified 11 planned “takeover” events. Nine were canceled and two never materialized.
“This kind of reckless and criminal behavior will not be tolerated on Clearwater Beach or anywhere in our city,” Walek said.
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Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri also warned that law enforcement would not allow similar gatherings to get out of control.
“This was the first weekend of summer break for a lot of these kids and this is the last weekend this nonsense will happen,” Gualtieri said.
Police have not said how Marsh obtained the firearm. It remains unclear whether additional arrests are expected in connection with the fight that happened before the shooting.