Tucson police shoot, kill armed teen

A Tucson police officer shot and killed a 17-year-old boy who police say took out a gun while officers were attempting to detain him on Wednesday.

Police were searching for the boy, who was suspected of several felonies including armed robbery and aggravated assault with a weapon, according to police. The incident occurred after police found him on Calle Rancho Rio on the south side of Tucson.

Police attempted to take him into custody but then he “brandished” a firearm, so a Tucson police officer drew his weapon and shot the boy, according to Tucson Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Pete Dugan.

Officers immediately began medical treatment on the boy. A call was then made to the Tucson Fire Department to take over treatment.

However, shortly after the Fire Department arrived, the boy was pronounced dead at the scene, Dugan said.

Tucson police followed standard protocol and called officers of the Violent Crimes Unit to begin investigating the criminal portion of the incident, including what led up to the shooting and reasons for the boy’s arrest, Dugan said.

Internal affairs sergeants also arrived and began a parallel investigation into the officer’s actions.

All officers on the scene were wearing body cameras, and no officers were injured. The footage as well as the name of the officer who shot the boy is expected to become available upon completion of the current investigations, Dugan said.

The Tucson Police Department was withholding the identity of the suspect until the next of kin is notified, Dugan said.