A 13-year-old Florida boy had a showdown with police and exchanged gunfire during a chase, hurting one officer, and causing injury to himself.
According to police, the incident happened in Lakeland, in central Florida. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that on Wednesday, Officer Jamie Smith heard gunshots near a park and drove toward the area, where he saw the young shooter getting into a car. Smith followed the vehicle for a short while, before the driver and two passengers, a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old, jumped out and ran.
Smith noticed that the 13-year-old running down the sidewalk had a gun and commanded him to stop. The boy entered an apartment complex, ignoring Smith’s orders, and when Smith turned a corner, the boy was waiting for him and fired three rounds, hitting Smith in the left foot. Smith fired back, but the boy fled the scene.
The officer called for backup and continued chasing the 13-year-old, whom he found hiding in some bushes near the apartment building. The boy engaged in another round of gunfire and was shot by the officer’s return fire. He was hit on his leg and abdomen.
The 13-year-old is currently in police custody at Tampa General Hospital. He and the 14-year-old had been on probation since being arrested for car burglary in January and found in possession of a stolen gun.
Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor said that the 13-year-old, the 19-year-old driver, and the 14-year-old are facing felony charges. Sheriff Judd has requested that the state attorney charge the 13-year-old as an adult due to his disregard for life and willingness to engage in a shootout with cops.
Sheriff Judd pointed out that despite his young age, the 13-year-old is a hardened criminal, and the incident highlights the dangers that police officers face every day. The wounded officer will be released from the hospital soon and the investigation into the incident continues.
