VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A 12-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl who were staying at the Florida United Methodist Children's Home are in hot water with the criminal justice system after Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said they ran away, broke into a home and shot at deputies with stolen guns Tuesday night. 

​The 14-year-old girl was shot by deputies, Chitwood said. Now, the sheriff is raising questions about the group home, calling it a "complete failure and a disgrace," adding that deputies were called out there nearly 300 times in 2020. 

“What the hell is the department of juvenile justice doing, sending these kids to places that can’t handle them?" Chitwood asked, following the shooting.

The Department of Children and Families issued a statement indicating that it is thankful that no lives were lost.  

"Any violence against law enforcement and any actions that threaten public safety will not be tolerated," the DCF statement said.

"Placement assessments for children in Florida’s foster care system are determined by the community-based organizations based on the child’s needs and placement availability," the DCF statement said. "The Department will continue coordinating with state and community agencies to ensure that the appropriate services are in place for the youth involved in this incident. DCF stands ready to coordinate with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office to hold tDepartment hose involved accountable.”       

Residents in the area said they've gotten used to constantly seeing kids who've run away from the home hiding in cars or boats on their property but that most of those children are not problematic or concerning. Tuesday night's shooting, neighbors agreed, is concerning. 

“Things have changed over the years for the children’s home for the whole child protection services and all of that, and he (Chitwood) is right, I think. They’ve got to look at it again and reconsider how they are providing therapy and rehabilitation for these kids," said Claire Radigan, who lives in the area. 

In a statement, President and CEO of the Florida United Methodist Children's Home Kitwana McTyer said, “We are child welfare facility, not a secure care facility”, and said this is the result of “the system failing our children."

Attorney David Haas said the juvenile justice system lets judges decide what happens after a child commits a crime.

“It’s much more involved as far the judge taking a look at the young man or young woman in front of them and deciding what would be best to get them to be corrective, rather than punishment,” Haas said. 

While halfway houses and group homes, like FUMCH, are designed to rehabilitate, Haas said not every child will get better, some get worse.

“You’re not supposed to put somebody who is going to be incredibly violent into some sort of a group home setting, but my guess is there’s plenty of other kids in there making great strides in these types of settings. But some are just not equipped to handle,” Haas said. "You know, maybe one of these youngsters stumps their attorneys, stumps their parents, stumps the judge and tries to work their way through."

McTyer said it’s the system that's at fault for what happened Tuesday night, saying, “These children are in desperate need of care in the appropriate setting, which is a higher level of care than we provide.” 

He said they’re seeing a higher level of kids repeatedly coming through with escalated behaviors and “we simply cannot continue to be everything to everyone.”

This is not the first violent incident to stem from this children’s home this year. In March, Chitwood said a teenager attacked and beat a guard working at the home, he later died.

Nicole Griffin of Spectrum News 13 contributed to this report.