AVONDALE, AZ — An 18-year-old was shot by police outside an Avondale McDonald's early Sunday morning after he was found asleep inside his car with a weapon and tried to run from officers, officials said.
Avondale police were called to the fast-food restaurant for a welfare check around 3:45 a.m. near 99th Avenue and McDowell Road, police said.
When officers arrived, they found 18-year-old Ta'jahi Terrion Price asleep inside his car in the drive-thru, blocking traffic, and causing other drivers to honk their horns.
Police said responding officers could see Price had a visible gun with him in the car. They reportedly tried to wake Price without opening the doors of his vehicle but when that did not work, they opened his door.
Police said Price woke up and there was an "altercation" with officers. Police said the man grabbed his gun and tried to run off, prompting police to shoot him.
Price was shot twice in the leg and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
On Monday, a spokesperson for Avondale police said one officer fired his gun. No officers or others were injured in the shooting incident.
An Avondale police spokesperson told ABC15 crews at the scene on Sunday morning the Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting.
The team is comprised of officers across the area who assist in investigating police-involved shootings to prevent any conflicts of interest. Glendale police will take the lead on this investigation, the spokesperson told us.
Avondale police said Monday that charges in the incident are pending and the "investigation is still being conducted by Glendale PD."
