SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. – A teenager accused of stealing items from a woman's car was shot by a neighbor in Spotsylvania County Tuesday night, according to Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office officials.
It all started when deputies were called to Harrison Road and North Dickerson Drive at 10 p.m. for a report of a person shot.
Capt. Elizabeth Scott said a woman who lives on Forbidden Forest Circle at the Kilburn Crossing Apartments spotted the suspect inside her car.
“When she confronted the male, he pulled a mask over his face and began to walk away with items he had stolen from her vehicle,” Scott said.
Deputies said the woman followed the teen and screamed for him to stop, but that suspect ran off on foot.
When a neighbor saw what was happening, he and his wife jumped into their car and gave chase, according to deputies.
“While on the phone with 911, they told the 911 operator that they were following the suspect and were attempting to stop him,” Scott said.
Once they hung up with the dispatcher, the pair managed to block the suspect by "positioning their vehicle in front of the suspect. "
“As the male got out of his vehicle, telling the suspect to stop, the suspect turned toward them pointing two handguns in their direction,” Scott said.
That is when deputies said the man fired at the teen, who was shot in the leg.
Officials said the teen ran to a nearby street where he stopped at a home and asked someone to call 911.
The neighbor who shot the teen had a valid concealed weapon permit and remained at the scene, officials said.
Deputies found both suspect’s handguns, which turned out to be toy guns that had been painted black, according to deputies.
Detectives charged the 17-year-old from Spotsylvania with brandishing a firearm, wearing a mask in public and petit larceny after several witnesses corroborated what happened.
“After being treated at a local hospital for a gunshot wound to his leg,” Scott said.
The suspect is being held at the Rappahannock Juvenile Detention Center.
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