Global Courant 2023-05-11 21:51:22
A 13-year-old suspect wounded a Florida police officer during a foot chase on Wednesday before being shot multiple times in a “firefight” with responding officers, authorities said.
The chase began around 5:15 p.m., when Officer Jamie Smith heard gunshots from a drive-by shooting in Simpson Park while investigating a separate call in the area, Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor told reporters on the scene.
Smith spotted the suspects’ vehicle, a Dodge Avenger, and attempted to pull it over. However, the driver refused to stop and led Smith to an apartment complex on 10th Street, where three suspects got out of the vehicle and fled, police said.
Smith chose to go after the 13-year-old after seeing him carrying a gun, Taylor said. The officer repeatedly ordered the teen to drop the gun, an order Taylor said the teen ignored.
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The chase began after a Lakeland police officer responded to a drive-by shooting around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday. (FOX13 Tampa WTVT)
“As he turned the corner of the building, the 13-year-old was waiting for him in a crouched position with the gun pointed at the officer and fired at least one shot,” Taylor said.
Smith, who has been with the department for less than two years, was hit in the foot and returned fire, the chief said. Despite being shot, the officer radioed that he was continuing the chase.
The teen was crouched behind the corner of a building and waited for the officer before opening fire, police said. (FOX13 Tampa WTVT)
Additional officers began to arrive as the 13-year-old jumped out of nearby bushes and tried to flee.
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Taylor said officers and the teen were once again engaged in a “firefight.” The boy was beaten several times and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
The officer was struck in the foot, while the 13-year-old was shot multiple times in the lower extremities, authorities said, adding that both suffered non-life-threatening injuries. (FOX13 Tampa WTVT)
“We don’t want him on the street,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “It’s only a matter of time before he hits someone, and by the grace of God he didn’t hit anyone with the drive-by this afternoon. But this is serious business. We’re going to treat him like an adult who commits violent, felonious criminal activity.”
The teen has a criminal past and was arrested in January for carrying a stolen weapon during a burglary. He was charged with multiple felonies in that case, the sheriff said.
Judd said Smith’s response to the shooting and chase to keep the community safe was “remarkable”.