Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – A runaway 16-year-old from New Jersey was killed by a Spotsylvania County sheriff’s deputy Thursday after police say the teen came at deputies with a gun.
The search for the teen, whose name has not been released because he’s a minor, started when police identified him as a suspect in two drive by shootings this week into a home on Cedar Post Lane. The first happened on March 4 around 11:15 p.m. The second was on the night of March 5 around 11:30.
The home targeted in the shootings was broken into earlier this year, and a .45 caliber gun was stolen. After the second shooting, a .45 Caliber bullet casing was found.
Police were tipped off that the teen may be the one responsible for the drive by shootings and also stealing a Volkswagon. That vehicle was found in Spotsylvania County Thursday. A BMW was stolen nearby.
Police patrolling the Salem Fields community spotted the stolen BMW and then found the suspect in a townhome in the same complex. He was holding a gun.
“Several commands were given for him to drop the firearm. The subject initially complied and placed the gun down, but as officers began to approach him he grabbed the gun and pointed it in the direction of the officers,” Spotsylvania County Sheriff Roger Harris at a press conference Thursday.
A shootout ensued, and the teen was shot a few times. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.
Harris said the deputy involved in the shooting is on routine administrative leave.
Copyright 2018 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office- Roger L. Harris Sheriff Facebook)
