Police: Alleged armed 17-year-old shot while running from police in Southwest Baltimore

BALTIMORE - An alleged armed 17-year-old was shot while running from a Baltimore police officer Thursday afternoon in the Shipley Hill neighborhood in Southwest Baltimore, police said.

Baltimore Police Deputy Commissioner Richard Worley said officers saw a man who showed "characteristics of an armed man."

The teen then ran from officers with a weapon in his hand before a police officer, from the Western District Action Team (DAT),  shot him in the upper body, police said. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Worley said police recovered a "real weapon with an extended magazine."

"I can't tell you what the officers saw," Worley said. "When they called it out, they said an individual with characteristics of an armed person. That's why they approached him, and as soon as they approached him, the suspect took off running."

The shooting happened at the intersection of Catherine Street and Frederick Avenue, about half a block from Frederick Elementary School and Westside Shopping Center.

"This unfortunate incident today is extremely traumatic for the injured, his family, the community, our police officers, everyone involved," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said. "As we go into this investigation, we will make sure that every protocol is followed and that we have an investigation that is completed in the best way."  

Police said the 17-year-old had a weapon in his right hand as he was fleeing, and ignoring commands from police. An officer fired more than one shot, according to Worley.

"We have a lot of body-worn footage to look at," Worley said. "We know he was running and he basically ignored several commands to drop the weapon the officer was given as he was chasing."

A woman, who lives on the block, described the scene as "chaotic." 

"When the little boy—the pow pow—I had to stop," the woman said. "I couldn't go nowhere else, and then all the citizens came over, and Baltimore police was telling them, 'Back up. Back up.' The next thing, you know, all the officers started coming from each way and the young guy was still laying on the ground, blood coming from his back and we're asking where is the ambulance."

The officer who fired his weapon is a member of a District Action Team, one of the Baltimore Police Department's specialized units that focus on proactive patrols, warrant apprehension and other measures in areas of Baltimore where gun violence is most frequent. In this case, officials said, the officer was sitting on a stoop interacting with a resident when he spotted the teen.