PASADENA, Texas – A Pasadena Independent School District officer shot a 14-year-old burglary suspect outside a school Tuesday.
The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. at Miller Intermediate School on Fairmont Parkway near Fox Meadow Lane.
According to detectives, the eighth-grade student set off the fire alarm when he broke into a portable building.
"When (the officer) got here, he heard someone in one of our portable buildings in the back of the school and called for backup," said Kirk Lewis, Pasadena ISD superintendent.
Police said there was a confrontation between the teenager, identified by relatives as Joe Martinez, and the officer.
"Before backup arrived, the suspect came out of the building. The officer confronted the suspect at that point and a single shot was fired," said Lewis.
The officer shot the student in the chest, officials said. The boy was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition.
Lewis said Joe was a student at Miller Intermediate.
The superintendent said no weapon was found on the teen. Stolen items were found in the teen's backpack, according to authorities.
Megan King said she was Joe's best friend. She said Joe was a troubled teen who had some problems at home.
"He doesn't think before he does things," she said. "He had snuck out of the house, and he had been doing it for a while. I just told him to be careful."
The superintendent said the portable classroom was filled with electronics and that the building had been broken into before.
The officer was placed on administrative leave during the investigation. He is six-year veteran of the department, but he has 17 years of experience in law enforcement.
"This is a tragedy for everyone involved," Lewis said. "It is upsetting that one of our students has been hurt. This has been very upsetting for the officer. Our hopes and prayers are for a quick recovery for everyone."
Counselors were at the school to help students and staff deal with the incident.