GLENDALE, AZ — A 15-year-old was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon by Glendale police near 67th Avenue and Bethany Home Road.
According to Glendale police, officers were investigating a stolen vehicle when it was tracked to an apartment complex in the area.
Officers surrounded the vehicle in a parking space with their own vehicles in the complex Wednesday to keep the suspects from leaving. At that time a 15-year-old male in the driver's seat allegedly told officers there was a gun in the vehicle. A 16-year-old was also sitting in the passenger's seat at the time.
Police originally said they removed the driver from the vehicle, and that after that, a struggle ensued and the 15-year-old allegedly reached toward where the gun was believed to be inside the vehicle. At that time at least one other officer fired at the 15-year-old. Police say a short time passed and the driver reached toward the spot the gun was believed to be at again, and officers fired once again.
However, police told ABC15 in a follow up that they are unsure if the 15-year-old was ever removed from the vehicle before the shooting happened.
The 15-year-old was taken to the hospital but did not survive his injuries.
The 16-year-old passenger was taken into custody without incident and has since been released.
The teen killed has not been identified.
Glendale police say the Buckeye Police Department will take over the investigation.
