By Richard Stradling
Source The News & Observer (Raleigh)
A Durham police officer shot and wounded a 16-year-old boy after a confrontation at a reported racing meetup event off Hope Valley Road early Sunday, according to the police department.
The shooting took place at a shopping center near the intersection of Hope Valley and Garrett roads shortly after midnight. Someone had called 911 to report “car club” racing in the area, according to police.
When the first officer arrived to try to disperse the cars and a crowd, he said someone threw “objects” at his car, according to police. He got out to confront the young man and gave chase when he ran.
The officer said the teen brandished a handgun and ignored repeated calls to drop it. The officer said he shot the teen when he raised the handgun, hitting him twice. Police say the teen dropped the gun but kept running and got into a car with several other people.
Police broadcast a description of the car, and other officers pulled it over, according to police. Those officers rendered medical aid to the wounded teen until EMS arrived.
The teen was listed in stable condition at a hospital early Sunday, police said. Police have not released his name. He has been charged as a juvenile with assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer; possession of a handgun by a minor, and resist, delay, obstruct a public officer.
Police say the officer is Cpl. R. McQueen, who has been with the department since 2006. McQueen was wearing a body camera that was activated during the foot chase and shooting, police said.
At a press conference at 2:45 a.m. Sunday, police chief Patrice Andrews said she did not know how many shots were fired or where the teen was struck.
“We will not be providing any further information regarding this shooting until Monday morning,” Andrews said.
McQueen was placed on administrative duty, standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Durham police Professional Standards Division are investigating the incident, which is also standard practice.
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