SCHENECTADY — A city police officer fired his weapon at a stolen vehicle after the driver allegedly drove toward him on Hulett Street on Friday afternoon, police said.
The officer fired once at the car, striking it, police said. However, it was unclear if either of the two occupants, including one believed to be a 15-year-old, was injured by the shot.
The incident, which included a foot chase and search, left the 15-year-old injured; he was being treated at a local hospital for what officials described as “minor” facial abrasions.
Police said it was unclear Friday night if the injury to the teen was a result of the gunfire or the brief foot chase.
A second person believed to have been in the vehicle fled and remained at large later Friday night, police said.
The officer who fired was not immediately identified Friday night. Department protocol calls for officers involved in shootings to be placed on paid administrative leave, city police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Dearing said.
The police investigation into the incident was underway. All city police officers are equipped with bodycams. As part of the investigation, officials will review the footage, as well as footage generated by in-car dashboard cameras.
There also appeared to be at least one video showing at the tail end of the incident, posted to Facebook shortly before 5 p.m. Friday.
The incident began as an officer observed a stolen vehicle driving on Hulett Street between Albany and State streets on Friday at 4:14 p.m., Dearing said Friday evening.
“The stolen vehicle turned into a parking lot on Hulett Street and turned around driving towards the officer who made the original observation,” Dearing said in a press conference on Friday night.
The officer then fired once, striking the vehicle, police said.
Following the gunfire, the vehicle turned north onto Hulett Street and stopped just short of State Street. Both occupants then fled on foot.
The 15-year-old was detained a short distance away and taken into custody, Dearing said.
The other occupant fled and was not located despite assistance from the county Sheriff’s Department and the state police’s Aviation Unit.
Officials are investigating what prompted the officer to fire his weapon, Dearing said. He did not identify the officer Friday night.
The incident is under investigation by the city Police Department’s Youth Aid Division and Detective Division.
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Categories: News, Schenectady County
