The teenage girl from the ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ duo who wielded an AK-47 assault rifle in a 35-minute shootout with cops on Tuesday had shared details about her broken home life in a series of YouTube videos posted last year, Dailymail.com can reveal.
Nicole Jackson, 14, and foster home pal Travis O’Brien, 12, opened fire repeatedly on sheriff’s deputies in Florida after breaking into a house and finding three weapons – in scenes captured in dramatic police body and helicopter camera footage.
Video shows her crying and whimpering in agony after being shot in the chest and arm when she refused to put down a shotgun pointed at officers.
The boy was then seen walking out from the house in Deltona with his hands in the air about 30 seconds after she was hit.
As questions are being asked about what drove Jackson to fire on cops, Dailymail.com can reveal an insight into her troubled history and state of mind.
Scroll down for video
Nicole Jackson, 14, and Travis O’Brien, 12, are accused of breaking into a home in Volusia County on Tuesday night and opening fire on officers during a 30-minute standoff that ended with the girl being shot
DailyMail.com can reveal the teenage girl had a YouTube channel where she shared details about her life in foster care
She started a short-lived YouTube channel in April last year, roughly 12 months after she said she went into care.
The teenager – who is now in stable condition in Arnold Palmer Hospital, Orlando – claimed in videos blogs that her troubles began when she was just seven when she was ‘sent to Halifax’ because of her ‘destructive’ behavior.
Jackson went missing with O’Brien from Florida United Methodist Children’s Home before the gun rampage on Tuesday night.
It was one of several ‘group’ homes for troubled and orphaned teenagers where she had lived – and she admitted she ran away from most of them.
The teen, who revealed she was born in Puerto Rico, said in one of the 19 videos on her channel: ‘When I was a little child I was really, really destructive. I’d punch my walls.’
She continued in a disjointed fashion, and without clearly explaining the circumstances: ‘They sent me to Halifax (the area around Daytona, Florida) and I was probably about seven.’
In another video, she said: ‘As you guys do know, I’m actually in a group home. It’s a very sad story. I actually just came in the system.’ She did not reveal which home she was in.
Jackson spoke candidly in one video titled ‘My life story I hope you guys enjoy.’ She claimed her troubles began when she was just seven when she was ‘sent to Halifax’ for her behavior
In other short videos she posted, she showed off cheap jewelry and make up, just like any other typical young girl – a stark contrast to the armed hoodlum she appeared to be in Tuesday night’s gun battle
The girl continued: ‘I just turned 13 February and in (last) May I was in a group home as well… I used to keep getting kicked out of my group homes.
‘Because for some reason I would run away, because I was depressed. If you guys know what a group home is, tell me how you guys are feeling.
‘So I was in a group home when I was 12. My first group home was Choices, my second group home was Unity… it wasn’t a group home the third one it was like a shelter. ‘
‘I ran away from all the group homes. I got in so many fights,’ she added.
‘It was bad. It’s really sad. I’ve been thinking about it for two days now to tell you guys what’s wrong with me.’
She revealed she had been in the home where she was making the video, for seven months.
She also spoke positively and expressed optimism for the future in the community of young girls aged between 13 and 17.
Jackson continued: ‘These are like my family. Group homes are not what you think they are.
‘They try to make you better. I am planning on staying my life here instead of going to an adoptive family. I am the youngest girl here.’
Authorities released footage of the 30-minute standoff that ended when Jackson was shot and the 12-year-old boy was forced to surrender. The boy is pictured above with his arms in the air walking towards police
The standoff that only ended when the girl was shot when she emerged from the garage while pointing her gun at officers. She is pictured above next to the blue trash can after being shot
Referring to another girl, she said: ‘Yesterday was her birthday. We got cheesecake. It’s not like what you think a group home is, it’s not like where they beat you with sticks.
‘No, I used to think the same thing too. But I was terrified when I came to the group home.
‘But not going to lie, when I did get taken away I was so happy, I don’t know why. Because I thought I was just going to get taken away and come back to my mom.’
In other short videos she posted, the teen shows off cheap jewelry and make up, just like any other typical young girl – a stark contrast to the armed hoodlum she appeared to be in Tuesday night’s gun battle.
Jackson and O’Brien, dubbed a young Bonnie and Clyde by Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood, face charges of attempted first-degree murder of law enforcement officers and armed burglary.
O’Brien appeared in juvenile court for the first time on Thursday and remained silent throughout.
The girl could be heard screaming in pain as aerial footage showed her lying on the ground (above) after being hit
After the boy was taken into custody, deputies could be seen running over to treat the injured girl. Jackson ended up being rushed to Central Florida Regional Hospital with life-threatening injuries and underwent surgery. She is now in stable
A judge ordered him to be arraigned on June 23. Jackson is recovering from surgery for her wounds and has yet to face court.
The pair are accused of breaking into the home while the owner had popped out to a nearby supermarket.
They are reported to have found the AK-47, a shotgun and a pistol in the house, along with 200 rounds of ammunition, which the owner said had been carefully concealed.
Police arrived on the scene after a passer-by reported hearing glass being smashed around 7.30pm. They called the owner, who said his was out and there were multiple guns in the property.
As officers approached the home, they saw two figures and called out. That was when the children started shooting, according to the police report.
Jackson is reported to have told O’Brien, in a reference to violent video game Grand Theft Auto: ‘I’m going to roll this down like GTA.’
One officer taking cover behind a tree and recording on his body cam said: Stand by. ‘She’s got the AK and the shotgun. She’s wrapping it around the top of her neck.’
His officer in charge is heard responding: ‘Hey guys, just hold behind hard cover. Let’s not shoot these kids, man. Just… let’s just hold fire. Take our time.’
Before the girl was shot, Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies were shouting over their radios that the girl was standing near a door with an AK-47 and shotgun
The cop then said: ’10-4. They’re shooting at me. She’s re-racking a round inside the shotgun.’
A few moments later the officer, with his pistol aimed at the house, said quietly to himself: ‘Don’t make me do this, don’t do this.’
Authorities said the children filed multiple rounds at deputies four times in the space of 30 minutes and from several vantage points around the home.
The stand-off ended when Jackson moved out of the garage and started to take cover behind a parked silver car.
She pointed the shotgun at deputies and ignored warnings to put down the weapon, before being shot.
Police videos reveals officers rushing over to give life-saving aid, while O’Brien came out of the garage with the AK-47.
A TV reporter later counted 11 bullet holes in the vehicle Jackson was trying to use as cover.
Sheriff Chitwood said immediately afterwards: ‘Deputies did everything they could tonight to de-escalate and they almost lost their lives to a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old.
‘It is wasn’t for their training and their supervision… somebody would have ended up dead. They took rounds – multiple, multiple rounds – until they were with no other choice but to return fire.’