DELTONA, FL — Two 13-year-old boys face multiple felony charges after allegedly embarking on a door-kicking spree at occupied homes across the City of Deltona. The arrests, announced by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, come amid a string of similar incidents that authorities warn could easily turn deadly.
Cameron Jasse and Malachi Yisrael, both 13, have been charged with four counts of attempted occupied burglary and criminal mischief. A third juvenile, whose identity was not released, was also arrested and charged with violating the conditions of an active home detention program.
Occupied Homes Targeted
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after receiving multiple, consecutive reports of residents’ front doors being violently kicked during the night. Because the targeted homes were occupied at the time, the actions bypassed simple property damage and escalated to attempted residential burglary under Florida law.
Detectives utilized neighborhood surveillance footage and localized tips to identify Jasse and Yisrael as the primary suspects behind the pattern of property damage.
A Warning of Armed Resistance
The dangerous door-kicking trend which often linked to viral social media challenges has drawn sharp, repeated criticism from Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
In public briefings, Sheriff Chitwood has consistently warned that juveniles participating in these pranks are risking their lives by forcing entry into private residences in a state with strong property-defense laws.
“It is only a matter of time before someone kicking a resident’s door is met with armed resistance from a homeowner defending their property,” Sheriff Chitwood warned.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that homeowners, startled by the sound of a door being breached in the middle of the night, have a legal right to defend their household, making the behavior incredibly high-risk for the juveniles involved.
Both 13-year-olds were processed through the Volusia County juvenile justice system following their arrests. Detectives noted that the investigation remains active as they look into additional unsolved property damage reports in the Deltona area.