A Florida homeowner was taken into custody after he pointed a firearm at a 14‑year‑old who had been ringing his doorbell. The incident unfolded on the evening of Oct. 16, 2025, in Boca Raton, where 40‑year‑old Santiago Cairo claimed the teen was trying to break in.
Cairo said he heard a group of people at his front door and thought they were burglars. After calling 911, he pulled out a handgun and confronted the boy—who was simply playing a “ding‑dong ditch” prank, a common youth game where teens ring a neighbor’s bell and run away. According to police records, Cairo held the gun in a “low‑ready” position and did not intend to shoot. He told officers that he had been forced to act because he feared he would be robbed.
The teenager reported that Cairo confronted him holding a flashlight and a gun, shouting that he had “made the wrong choice,” and then tried to push him to the ground. The teen said the homeowner ordered him to kneel and then grabbed his shoulder. “I felt threatened,” the teen told investigators.
Investigators later learned that nobody actually broke into the house. Cairo admitted to police that he had “gone too far” in response. His attorney said the gun was never aimed directly at anyone and his client never put his hands on anyone. The attorney did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
On the scene, Cairo was booked on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm, a felony in Florida. He was released on a $10,000 bond. A judge will hear his case next month.
Neighbors have mixed feelings. Mary Elizabeth Hall, who lived next door, admitted she was upset by how the events unfolded but defended Cairo’s decision to protect his home: “I was watching the mother drive away with her kids. I saw my neighbor handcuffed and sitting in the back of the car.” Hall said the South Florida area has seen a rise in car break‑ins and she wonders whether the boy was truly a prankster or trying to steal. She hoped that the court would give the teenager a serious lesson while clearing her neighbor’s name.
The alarmed incident highlights the fine line Florida residents walk between defense of property and legal overreach. With Florida still enforcing strict gun‑related laws, the case may become a touchstone for other homeowners who fear home invasion.
Key facts
- Location: Boca Raton, Florida
- Date: Oct. 16, 2025
- Perpetrator: Santiago Cairo, 40, homeowner
- Victim: 14‑year‑old boy (unidentified) playing ding‑dong ditch
- Weapon: Firearm, held at low‑ready, not aimed
- Charge: Aggravated assault with a firearm (felony)
- Bond: $10,000
- Status: Awaiting court appearance
- Community impact: Debate over homeowner rights vs. excessive force
This incident demonstrates how a prank can spiral into a serious legal situation, especially in a state that takes gun laws and home defense very seriously. Florida residents are reminded to weigh the risks of confronting strangers—especially armed—to avoid facing felony charges.
Source: Fox News
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