PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police are investigating after an off-duty sheriff’s deputy and a family member shot a 17-year-old boy who broke into the officer’s car in Southwest Philadelphia early Tuesday morning.
It happened at 73rd Street and Bunting Place in the Eastwick neighborhood. Around 3:30 a.m., the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office deputy noticed that someone had broken into his Honda Accord, which was parked in front of his house, police said.
At some point, police said the deputy and a family member — believed to be his son — fired a combined four shots at the 17-year-old.
The teen was hit twice in the leg, but he managed to get away in a car that sped off, police said. About 20 minutes later, police learned that the teen had been dropped off at the hospital and was in stable condition. The deputy was later taken there, where he positively identified the suspect.
“At the hospital, [investigators] find other evidence that the 17-year-old had in his possession,” Chief Inspector Scott Small said. “Key fobs that you can adjust to break into other vehicles. I believe he had a screwdriver in his possession and other items that are normally used to break into vehicles.”
Small said authorities will investigate to see if the teen was also involved in any other recent carjackings and break-ins in the area.
The officer and the family member, who was also licensed to carry, were not injured, and they are cooperating with police.
It was not immediately clear to police if the teen was shot by the officer, the family member or both.