HOUSTON – Police shot at a teenager accused of using a stolen car in an attempt to run over two Houston Police Department officers in southwest Houston, according to authorities.
Officers saw the stolen vehicle Monday in a neighborhood near the 7800 block of West Bellfort Avenue, officials said.
"They observed the vehicle in this neighborhood, and then they followed it in, the vehicle was seen parking behind a van at the end of the street," Houston Police Department Assistant Chief Wendy Baimbridge said.
The stolen vehicle had the same plates, allowing a Houston gang task force to make the positive identification, according to police. Police said the vehicle was stolen on July 19.
Two uniformed officers parked nearby and started walking toward the car, but officials said the 16-year-old driver of the vehicle started driving right at them.
Authorities said one of the officers fired at the vehicle.
"(The car) Got to about, 3 to 5 feet away, at that point, the officer, fearing he was going to run over him, he shot one round into the vehicle," Baimbridge said.
Police said the bullet hit the driver's side of the windshield, but missed the driver.
Police said the teen kept driving until he lost control and crashed into a tree in a front yard in the 8700 block of Duffield Lane around 2:50 p.m.
Baimbridge said the teen then attempted to leave the scene on foot, but was caught and taken into custody.
"At that point he fled on foot approximately 100 feet when he was then apprehended by the officers on the scene," Baimbridge said.
The man is a gang member, according to Houston police. He was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
Neighbors said the sound of the crash was startling.
"Like a big explosion, that’s what I thought," Brikte Embaye said. "The next thing I know, police are chasing him."
Officials said the teen was referred to Harris County juvenile probation and will face charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and felony evading arrest.