A Rochester police officer fired several shots at a the driver of a car who tried to run him down Thursday evening, with one shot wounding the 15-year-old driver in the leg.
Deputy Police Chief LaRon Singletary says the incident in a parking lot at West Broad and Jay Streets began when the car was reported stolen during the afternoon in Northwest Rochester. An officer spotted it and tried to pull it over, but the driver sped away and the officer elected not to chase.
Singletary says police spotted the car in that parking lot about an hour later. When police told the driver to get out, he aimed the car at one of the officers instead. Singletary says the officer then fired at the car. The teenage driver was grazed in the leg by one of the bullets and was treated at Strong Memorial Hospital before being arrested.
Jay Street was closed for several hours for the investigation. The 15-year-old’s name was not released because of his age. He’s been charged in Family Court with Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree for the original theft of the vehicle, which occurred on December 26th, 2018. In addition, he is being charged with Reckless Endangerment in the 1st Degree for the incident on W. Broad Street.
He’s being held at the Juvenile Detention Facility in Rush.