CRIME
Cleveland Police Shooting: What Happened When They Found a Teen Suspect?
Cleveland, USAWed Dec 18 2024
Last weekend, Cleveland police found themselves in a tense situation. They were chasing a 14-year-old boy suspected of a string of car break-ins. Around 4 AM on Saturday, the police came across the teen in a car at the 800 block of East 146th Street. At first, they thought he was unconscious. But suddenly, the teen backed into a garage and drove towards the officers. That's when the police opened fire, wounding the teen in the shoulder.
The police radio recordings captured the moment. You can hear the officers shouting "shots fired" and calling for emergency medical services (EMS). The teen was conscious and breathing with a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. Investigators later found a stolen car and a stolen gun in the teen's vehicle.
This wasn't the first time the 14-year-old had run into trouble with the law. He was already wanted by the juvenile court for other crimes. Just last month, he had been placed on house arrest and managed to cut off his ankle monitor within a week. His record also included charges for driving a car while underage and fleeing from police.
Insiders close to the investigation said the officers were in real danger during the encounter. The incident raises important questions about teen crime, police response, and how to keep both officers and community members safe.
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questions
Was there any consideration given to using a tranquilizer dart instead of live ammunition to subdue the 14-year-old suspect?
How does the shooting of a juvenile suspect align with the principles of de-escalation and community policing?
If the teen was indeed unconscious, how did he manage to back into a garage and drive at police officers?
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