'Don't shoot me:' Docs reveal moments leading up to teen shooting a Tacoma PD detective
2 teens accused of stealing car, shooting detective face judge
Two 15-year-olds have been charged in connection to a shooting of a Tacoma PD detective last week.
TACOMA, Wash. - Two 15-year-olds have been charged in connection to a shooting of a Tacoma PD detective last week.
According to court documents, several Tacoma Police officers were participating in a citywide emphasis on Aug. 23 to locate and recover stolen vehicles. The team found two stolen vehicles at the Aero Apartments on S Ash St.
While they were there, a sergeant found a Hyundai with no plates spinning its tires and speeding away. The sergeant knew that Hyundais are commonly stolen vehicles, so he followed it in an unmarked car and radioed in the description, according to court documents.
Two other officers in a marked patrol vehicle began to follow the Hyundai as well. The officers put on their emergency lights before the suspects pulled over outside the Aero Apartments and ran off.
One detective in an unmarked car heard the radioed call and saw one of the suspects approach a gated roadway near the apartment and moved to cut him off with his vehicle. As the detective got closer, the teen suspect pulled out a gun, according to court documents.
The detective had his windows down and said something to the effect of "don't shoot me" before the teen fired into the vehicle, according to court documents. The detective was hit in the shoulder.
He then got out of his patrol vehicle and the teenage shooter met him around back. The detective said he thought the teen would shoot him again, but the teen ran off when a marked patrol car sped into the complex.
The teens met up in a wooded area and hid. The father of the teen shooter said he got a call from his son, who sent his pinned location and asked to be picked up. The father realized that the pinned location was in the same area that was blocked off by police for the search, so police brought the father in to call out to his son and nephew to surrender, according to court documents.
The pair were found about two hours after the initial incident, hiding under a backyard deck. They were taken into custody.
The vehicle the teens were speeding off in initially was later reported as stolen out of Lynnwood.
The accused shooter was charged with second-degree attempted murder (firearm enhanced), first-degree assault (firearm enhanced), second-degree taking a motor vehicle without permission, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and obstructing a law enforcement officer.
Man in custody after shooting at Tacoma officer during chase
A suspect is in custody after shots were fired between the suspect and an officer in Tacoma early Wednesday morning.
The accused driver of the stolen vehicle was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and obstructing a police officer.
A judge will determine if the pair should be charged as adults.
In the meantime, the judge ordered the teens to stay in a secured detention facility until their next court hearing.
During a court appearance, the teens' parents addressed the judge.
"I want everybody to keep in mind that this is a child we’re dealing with, despite whatever mistakes he’s being accused of. And I want everybody to consider that. I want everybody to hyper-focus on that fact," the father of the shooting suspect said.
"I would appreciate if he could come home. I’ll take responsibility, he’ll be at home," the mother of the stolen car suspect said.
The detective who was shot was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
One of the two 15-year-old suspects arrested after a Tacoma Police detective was shot has pleaded guilty. However, he will serve no time because he has no prior criminal history.
The teen pleaded guilty on Friday to Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer. He was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 12 months of deferred disposition.
If he successfully completes the conditions, then the convictions will be vacated and the file sealed.
The second suspect accused of shooting the officer has a hearing scheduled for Nov. 28 to determine whether he will be charged as an adult.
The detective is still recovering from his injuries.
Meanwhile, the Tacoma Police Department has not replaced him on The Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force even though Chief Avery Moore told the city council that auto theft is still increasing while violent crimes are decreasing in areas targeted as part of his Violent Crime Reduction plan.
Kia and Hyundai models continue to be stolen and used in crimes. Law enforcement estimates there add around 100 so-called Kia Boyz stealing the vehicles in Pierce and King County.