UPDATE: St. Petersburg Police have charged Stephan C. Harper, 18, with the first degree murder of 8-year-old Paris Whitehead-Hamilton.

The girl was asleep in the front room of the house at 771 Preston Ave. S in Bartlett Park when at about 2:20 a.m. someone fired dozens of shots from a semi-automatic rifle at the front of the house. At least one of the bullets struck and killed her.

Detectives say Harper, left, actively planned and participated in the shooting. Detectives also believe there are more suspects in this case.

Investigators learned that Harper has had an ongoing disagreement with one of the adult males who lived at the house and they believe the was an act of retaliation, police said. The exact nature of their conflict is not clear at this time.

Harper, of 731 15th St. S, Apt. E106, is being interviewed at the St. Petersburg Police Department prior to being transported to the Pinellas County Jail .

Detectives seized three assault rifles, two shotguns and one bullet-proof vest from an apartment at Citrus Grove Apartments, 711 15th St. S. Police said they believe some of these weapons were used in the shooting death.

Chief of Police Charles "Chuck" Harmon expressed his condolences to the victim's family for "this tragic and senseless shooting" and praised the efforts of his officers and detectives who "worked extremely hard all day to bring closure to this case in less than 24 hours."

Source: tampabay.com