PHOENIX — Two teenagers were in critical condition after they were shot by two Phoenix police officers on Sunday night after the teens allegedly stole a car at gunpoint and tried to hit an officer with their car.
The Phoenix Police Department said early Monday that the two suspects, who were only described as 15- and 16-year-old boys, were in critical condition after the shooting near the Metrocenter Mall around 8:45 p.m. Sunday.
The passenger has since been released from the hospital, but the driver remains hospitalized in critical condition, even though he has since stabilized.
The department said officers responded to a reported armed robbery in the area of 31st Avenue and Mission Lane, right down the street from the mall.
The victim said the two suspects approached him in the parking lot of the apartment complex and that one of them pointed a handgun at him and demanded his vehicle.
The victim told police that he gave the suspects his keys and both the suspects drove away in the car.
Two police officers were traveling northbound on 29th Avenue toward Metro Parkway when they found the car stopped in traffic.
Both officers approached the car on foot, giving verbal commands and motioned for the driver to remain stopped.
The department said that the driver initially complied before suddenly driving toward one of the officers. Both officers fired their weapons at this point, police said.
The car continued to drive southbound on 29th Avenue but stopped near 19th and Northern avenues.
The passenger exited the car, police said, and the driver exited a short time later after a K-9 officer "deployed less lethal munitions," police said.
Both teenagers were taken to a local hospital, where they are currently in critical condition. The officers involved were identified as a 24-year-old man with two years of service and a 25-year-old man with three years of service.
The department said that a handgun was found in the car.
No one else was injured.
The investigation is ongoing.
This is a developing story. 12 News will update as more information is provided.
