Teen killed in shootout with Lakeland security guard

LAKELAND - A 15-year-old is dead after police say he shot a pellet gun at a security guard and the guard returned fire, striking the teen in the leg.

Investigators say the gunshots rang out just before 5:00 a.m. Saturday at the Willow Glen Apartments on N. Gilmore Avenue. According to a Lakeland Police Department news release, the guard,  Shawn Plain, 19, was in a laundry room charging his phone. That's when the suspect, identified as Stephen Brenor, 15, entered the room and shot Plain in the face with a pellet gun.

Plain told police there were other people outside the laundry room pointing guns in his direction. He returned fire, striking Brenor in the leg.

Police say Plain went back to get his phone and call 911. He had a conversation with Brenor, who asked him to call an ambulance for him and apologized for shooting the guard.

Brenor later died as a result of his injury. Police said the 15-year-old was a documented gang member. Plain was treated for pellet gun wounds to the face.

According to investigators, they are treating this as a self defense shooting and Plain is not likely to be charged. Detectives are looking for the other gunmen, who fled during the shooting.