Two teenagers arrested in connection with last week's burglary in which a Pasco County deputy was shot but not injured now face more serious charges.
After detectives and prosecutors reviewed the case, attempted murder charges were filed against Robert Anthony Green, 15, of 38548 Patti Lane, and Antonio Lee Murray, 16, of 37330 Oak St., Dade City. They each were arrested on a charge of armed burglary Monday.
Green and Murray told deputies they forced their way into Sam's Quick Mart on State Road 575 in Lacoochee on Aug. 7 and stole jewelry, electronics, clothing and a semiautomatic handgun, according to affidavits.
Deputy Jeffrey Chandler and another deputy responded to the call. Chandler was shot in the chest but wasn't injured because the bullet was deflected by a metal business-card holder in his left shirt pocket.
Chandler, 31, also was wearing a bullet-resistant vest. The impact of the bullet knocked him backward but didn't pierce his body.
Investigators say they got a tip that a teenager was selling cell phones that had been stolen from the store, hawking them on the streets of Lacoochee. That led them to Green, authorities said.
Detectives say they still aren't sure who fired the shot that struck Chandler, who has returned to work.
The teens told detectives they took turns firing the gun, which was stolen from the store, according to the sheriff's office. They said they thought deputies were coming from the back of the store, and they were trying to shoot out windows at the front of the store to escape, authorities said.
The windows had a protective covering that blocked the view out of the store and in.
The teens said they did not know a deputy was on the other side of the windows, authorities said.
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