Florida Man Who Held 4-Year-Old Boy Off Hotel Balcony to ‘Scare Him a Little Bit' Drops Child on Head: Police
Brandon Gilmore is accused of dangling a 4-year-old boy over hotel balcony and then dropping him two stories.
July 11 2024, Published 2:03 p.m. ET
A Florida man has been arrested after authorities say he allegedly dropped a young boy from a second story balcony in an attempt to “scare him a little bit.”
Around 8 p.m. on July 6, guests at the Sandalwood Resort in Daytona called 911 after they saw 31-year-old Brandon Gilmore drop the 4-year-old boy head first from the balcony, according to police reports obtained by WESH.
Police said Gilmore met the boy’s mother about five hours earlier at the hotel pool. She told police she left her son with Gilmore while she went to take a shower.
According to police, Gilmore said he told the mother he was taking the child outside to play and “scare him a little bit.”
Authorities obtained hotel video surveillance footage, which allegedly shows Gilmore leaving a room and holding the child normally in his arms before then holding him over the balcony by one leg.
In the video, Gilmore is allegedly seen dropping the child head first off the second story balcony, officials said.
Dasanni Bentley, who witnessed the incident, told WESH, “He let him go, and he had him by one foot. And then the kid slipped right out of him and fell directly on his head on the concrete, no grass."
Bentley said the child’s mom and Gilmore then ran downstairs.
Though witnesses warned not to move the child, the mother reportedly picked up the boy and took him back to her room, a police affidavit states.
- Florida Mother Charged with Murder of 4-Year-Old Son 11 Years After His Death: Police
- Arizona Mom Blames 3-Month-Old Daughter's Death on ‘Back-Cracking Adjustment’: Affidavit
- North Carolina Women Accused of Child Abuse Claim 'Evil Ghosts' Caused Burns, Bite Marks, and Broken Bones on Toddlers: Sheriff
The child was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors determined he had suffered blunt force trauma to his head.
Gilmore allegedly admitted to investigators that he dropped the boy off the balcony, according to police.
Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.
Gilmore was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse.
He was booked into the Volusia County Jail and was being held without bond.
Police said the Department of Children and Families was contacted in connection with the case.
Become a Front Page Detective
Sign up to receive breaking
Front Page Detectives
news and exclusive investigations.