James Bradley Hulett Jr., a 15-year-old resident of Lithia, Florida, tragically lost his life on December 13, 2019. The incident occurred at the home of a Tampa Police officer on Bridgewater Drive, where Hulett was spending time with three friends from Newsome High School. During their time together, Hulett was shot in the back of the head and was subsequently transported to Brandon Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office conducted a thorough investigation, which included a complete crime scene analysis, a review from the medical examiner, discussions with the victim’s family, social media analysis, and a ballistics analysis.
The investigation faced several challenges, primarily due to the limited cooperation from those present at the scene. All three teenagers involved retained lawyers immediately following the incident, and only two of them provided statements to the investigators. The Tampa Police officer who owned the home also provided limited information through his attorney. Despite these hurdles, the Sheriff's Office worked diligently to gather all available evidence and submitted their findings to the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office to determine if charges would be brought against any of the individuals involved.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the community and Newsome High School students expressed their concerns about safety. Many students, including Hulett's sister and girlfriend, voiced their fears about attending school with the teenagers involved in the incident. They felt that the school district had not taken adequate measures to ensure their safety and called for a threat assessment to be conducted. The school board faced criticism for its perceived inaction and the ongoing presence of the involved students at the school.
The legal proceedings took a significant turn when the parents of James Bradley Hulett Jr. decided they did not want the teenager who shot their son to face a long prison sentence. Instead, they reached a resolution with the State Attorney's Office for the suspect, Christopher "Ramsey" Bevan, to enter a pre-trial intervention program. This program included mental health treatment, drug and alcohol evaluation, 150 hours of community service, maintaining full-time school or employment, and remaining arrest-free. If Bevan successfully completes the program, the charges against him will be dismissed. This decision was influenced by the Hulett family's desire to repair the bond with their son's friend and to promote positive change through raising awareness about gun safety.
