DETROIT (WWJ) -- A teenager with autism could lose his kidney after he was shot while lost Wednesday afternoon on Detroit's east side.
Detroit Police said 18-year-old Claude Woosck was dropped off at Lenox and Warren by an Uber, rather that his home in River Rouge, after the wrong address was somehow entered in the rideshare app.
"He wasn't too sure where he was at, he was sort of lost, so he called a family member," Detroit Police Deputy Chief Arnold Williams said. "After speaking with the family member, the family member advised him to take a picture of where he was, of the address where he was at or near, and that family relative would come and pick him up."
Williams said the teen took a picture of a nearby house, which led to a dispute with the men who demanded to know why he was taking photos.
"They came out of the home, and they began to threaten him for taking the picture," Williams said. "There was some kind of argument that occurred, and he was eventually shot. We know at least two shots were fired. He was shot at least one time in the back."
Williams said the victim fled, and was met by police officers who rendered first aid before EMS arrived to take him to a hospital.
The teen's sister, Violet Woosck, told WWJ's Darrylin Horne her brother was in the city taking a test for school, and was just trying to get home.
She said Claude didn't have any weapons on him. He in tears and "in panic mode" as he tried to convince the men that he wasn't up to no good.
"I don't understand why they would do this to him, because he did tell you guys that, you know, 'I'm lost, I'm lost! My sister's trying to get me. That's the only reason why I took the picture of the address.' And then as soon as he deletes it like you want, you sit there and physically assault him and shoot him?"
Violet said she was screaming at the men through the phone, pleading with them not to hurt her brother, as she rushed to the scene.
"That was very scary, honestly," the sister said. "I was — I'm not even gonna lie — I was swerving around cars and everything trying to get to him, and I'm 40 minutes away. That was probably like the longest drive of my life, trying to get to him."
Violet said her brother was initially listed in critical condition. He's awake and talking now, but he's still in a lot of pain as doctors work to save his kidney.
The Woosck family is concerned about potential paralysis and uncertain future, as the teen was soon set to graduate high school.
Williams said the DPD is investigating the case, but no arrests have been made.
It's absolutely unnecessary, he said, that a situation like this should escalate to violence.
"We have a lot of people in our community that have different levels of mental disabilities. You never know who you're going to encounter," Williams told reporters. "So, we say, number one: Have some patience with them. And, number two: It should never be an instance or situation or a circumstance that you shoot someone because they took a picture of your home."
There is no description of any suspects at this time, but Williams said the DPD is working some leads.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up (1-800-773-2587). All tips through Crime Stoppers are 100% anonymous.