Teen arrested for alleged knife attack on beachgoers in Walton County

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — A 17-year-old Walton County boy was arrested for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after allegedly threatening teens with a knife and reportedly cutting one of them while they were on a beach in Walton County.

According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), just before midnight on July 12, deputies responded to a call about a stabbing near the public beach access at the end of Winston Lane in Rosemary Beach.

Witnesses told deputies they were on the beach with a large group of kids who were participating in “Oklahoma Drills,” a trending activity for those in high school and college where two males are surrounded in a crowd and willingly “face-off” and go full contact. The last one standing “wins.”

After a round of “Oklahoma Drills” finished, witnesses said the suspect pulled a knife and began charging at different people with the knife open. As a result, the teenager allegedly cut a victim in the crowd.

A search by deputies around Winston Lane reportedly located the knife, the suspect’s backpack with blood from the victim, and the suspect’s owner key card for a Rosemary Beach address.

When deputies arrived at the home on West Water Street, the teen reportedly fled out the back door and ran from the deputies.

On Thursday morning, July 13, deputies located the teen and arrested him. He has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, three counts of aggravated assault, and resisting arrest.

According to the WCSO, the teen was arrested in June of 2022 for obstruction following an incident involving the battery of a WCSO deputy.