Feb. 01--An El Paso Police Department patrol sergeant shot a 15-year-old boy on Tuesday after the teenager allegedly threatened the officer with a "sharp object," authorities said.
The boy, who was not identified by police, is in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries. The sergeant's name is also being withheld by police officials.
The boy was being detained on suspicion of stealing beer in Central El Paso.
Police officers said that around 12:10 p.m. Tuesday the sergeant saw a person who matched the description of a boy suspected of a beer run at a Circle-K on the 5200 block of Paisano, just about a quarter mile north of the location where the boy was shot.
"A patrol supervisor, a sergeant, saw a subject matching the general description," said police spokesman Chris Mears. He "attempted to detain him for further investigation. The subject threw a bottle at the officer's vehicle."
After a short foot pursuit, officers caught up with the boy in the area of Blanco and De Vargas, Mears said.
The boy then pulled a "sharp object" and threatened police, who asked him to drop the object. Mears said police would not specify what the weapon was.
"He refused to follow the officer's commands to drop the object and he approached the officer in an aggressive manner with the sharp object," Mears said. "The officer fearing for his safety fired his duty weapon striking the subject."
The boy was taken to University Medical Center where he is in stable condition with
non-life threatening injuries, Mears said.
Police are trying to contact the boy's family.
Police did not say where the boy was struck or how many shots were fired.
"Until we process the scene and pick up the evidence we are not going to go into those details," Mears said.
The El Paso Police Department's Crimes Against Persons Unit, Shooting Review Team and the Texas Rangers are continuing the investigation.
Members of the El Paso County District Attorney's Office were also present at the scene.
Clardy Elementary School was on lockdown as a precaution, El Paso Independent School District officials said.
Henderson is about a quarter-mile east of the location of the shooting.
Times reporter Hayley Kappes contributed to this article.
Aaron Bracamontes may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6156.
Copyright 2012 - El Paso Times, Texas
