TAMPA, Fla. — The teenager charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of Bradley Hulett last year had his first appearance Saturday morning. 

The State Attorney's Office charged the 15-year-old on Friday after investigating the case for months. We are not naming the teenager per Spectrum Bay News 9's crime guidelines.

The judge ruled the teen will be held in secure detention until March 20. His next court appearance is March 24.

The State Attorney announced Friday the Tampa Police Officer who owned the gun would not be charged. The office's statement reads in part, "Although this incident raises legitimate questions about the effectiveness of Florida's gun storage laws, we are left to faithfully apply the law as currently written. In this situation, there is no legal basis to charge the father for failing to safely store his gun."

Spectrum Bay News 9 spoke with Sheriff Chad Chronister on Saturday about the law. He says it should be changed.

“Just a few words like reasonable and likeliness will prevent someone from being [held] accountable and prevents our State Attorney from being able to have the comfort in knowing that he can prosecute this case beyond a reasonable doubt," said Sheriff Chronister.

He says this case is a tragedy for the entire community and it's left him frustrated. 

“I think the bottom line is that if that firearm would have been properly stored that evening, this tragic death wouldn't have occurred," Chronister said.

Sheriff Chronister says he met with Hulett's father on Friday. He plans to work with the family moving forward.

“I gave him my word that every resource at my disposal at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will now be at his disposal as we advocate to change the law, to bring clarity to the law," he said.

He wants the public to remember how crucial it is to safely and properly store firearms.​

“We all as gun owners have to practice responsible ownership. That means properly storing whatever firearms you have whether it’s a trigger lock, a barrel guard, or placing your gun in a safe, make sure it’s out of reach of children and especially inquisitive teenagers," Chronister expressed.