Clothing brand founder admitted to shooting teen in hotel: police
A Florida clothing brand founder allegedly admitted to police that he accidentally shot an 18-year-old woman at a hotel near Palm Beach.
According to the arrest affidavit, the father of the victim, Laura Grace Duncan, told investigators that his daughter was in a romantic relationship with Michael Hutto, the founder of the Salt Life clothing and lifestyle brand.
Hutto the told police that he and Duncan were on their way to the Florida Keys last month before stopping at a Hilton resort on Singer Island, near Palm Beach. Hutto allegedly told said the two were joking around in their hotel room with a finger-gun and a real gun. At one point, the gun fired once, hitting Duncan in the stomach.
Hutto took the gun with him and fled the room without his identification or wallet. He was later rushed to a hospital in Jacksonville, about 275 miles north, after he was found in his car illegally parked outside a gas station “twitching, making delusional comments and crying while his eyes were rolling into the back of his head.”
Hutto allegedly told police at the hospital, “Oh my God, I think I hurt my Gracie,” while crying, according to WPTV, a Florida NBC affiliate.
Duncan was discovered back at the hotel room on Oct. 29 after her parents traced her phone’s location after not hearing from her for several days.
Hutto, who sold his share of Salt Life in 2013, was arrested the next day when he left the hospital. He has been charged with one count of manslaughter and a firearms possession violation. His next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 9.
———
©2020 New York Daily News
Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
