Scott Maxwell Maria Padilla Mark Silva Mike Thomas

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 13-year-old New Smyrna Beach boy was beaten to death Friday by a 15-year-old boy who thought the victim had given cigarettes to the older boy's little brother, authorities said.

After an argument that left Shane Michael Farrell, 13, on the ground, the victim begged the 15-year-old boy to stop kicking him, according to one of several boys who said they witnessed the attack near the intersection of Julia and Faulkner streets.

"Please don't; no, no," Shane pleaded as the older boy repeatedly kicked him, according to the father of a witness.

Gene Correia said his son, Gene Correia Jr., who was with Shane when the attack happened, told investigators the older boy had been looking for Shane for four days.

The older boy was angry with Shane because he thought that Shane had given cigarettes to his 8-year-old brother, authorities were told.

The assault occurred about 3:10 p.m., according to New Smyrna Beach Police Department investigators.

Paramedics found Shane unresponsive and not breathing when they arrived at the scene about 3:30 p.m.

He was taken to Bert Fish Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

A handful of teenage boys -- one clutching a skateboard -- and their parents filed in and out of the New Smyrna Beach police station as detectives interviewed witnesses.

Gene Correia said his son told authorities that Shane tried to explain to the boy that he hadn't given any cigarettes to the older boy's brother.

The 15-year-old boy was being held at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Daytona Beach on a second-degree murder charge. Authorities could not say if he would be tried as an adult.

Charlene Hager-Van Dyke can be reached at 386-851-7927 or chagervandyke@orlandosentinel.com. Rich McKay can be reached at 386-253-2316 or rmckay@orlandosentinel.com.