PHOENIX (AP) - Phoenix police say two officers shot two teenage suspects in an armed carjacking after they charged at them with the vehicle.
Sgt. Maggie Cox said a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy remain hospitalized Monday in critical condition.
According to investigators, the incident started Sunday around 8:45 p.m. after a man reported that two suspects demanded his car keys at gunpoint.
Two officers located the stolen car near North Metro Parkway and I-17 and conducted a traffic stop.
Cox says the officers opened fire when the 15-year-old in the driver’s seat ignored commands and drove toward one of them.
After the gunfire, the driver attempted to keep driving but stopped.
The 16-year-old passenger got out of the car. A K-9 officer was then deployed to see if the car was safe to approach. The 15-year-old then got out of the car.
Both teens were treated by firefighters before being taken to the hospital.
Investigators recovered a handgun from the stolen car.
The two officers involved each have been with the department between two to three years.
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