Suspect Arrested In Connection With 2025 Avon Park Christmas Parade Shooting That Critically Injured Teenager

19-year-old Joseph Devon White faces attempted murder and grand theft auto charges following the 2025 Avon Park Christmas Parade shooting. Read the HCSO report.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 9:36 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Tampa Bay 28 (WFTS).

The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) announced a major breakthrough on Thursday in a case that had shaken the Avon Park community. Joseph Devon White, 19, was taken into custody and charged with first-degree attempted homicide following a month-long investigation into a shooting during the annual Christmas Parade on December 1, 2025. The gunfire struck a 16-year-old individual who remains in critical condition.

Law enforcement officials clarified that the shooting was a targeted incident and was not related to a separate large-scale brawl that occurred during the parade festivities. In addition to the attempted murder charge, White faces counts of improper exhibition of a firearm and discharging a weapon in public. Sheriff’s deputies utilized witness statements and forensic evidence to link White to the scene, though a specific motive for the shooting has not yet been publicly disclosed.

White’s arrest also cleared several other active investigations in the Sebring area. Authorities have tied him to two grand theft auto cases occurring on February 25 in the Sun 'n Lake community. Consequently, he faces additional charges of grand theft auto, selling drugs, possession of drug equipment, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The convergence of these violent crimes and property offenses suggests a pattern of criminal activity that has been a primary focus for the HCSO's criminal investigations division.

The 16-year-old victim's struggle for recovery has been a rallying point for the Avon Park community since the December attack. While the arrest of the primary suspect offers a sense of justice, the HCSO emphasized that the investigation remains active. Detectives are still working to determine if any other individuals played a role in harboring White or assisting in the crimes.

Joseph Devon White is currently being held as the legal process moves forward toward a formal arraignment. The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with additional information regarding White’s activities or the night of the parade shooting to contact their detectives or email the department directly. Community cooperation, officials noted, was instrumental in bringing these charges to fruition.