Detroit officer kills teen trying to rob him

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By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Jul 1, 2008 at 7:29 AM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 1, 2008 at 7:29 AM EDT

DETROIT (AP) — Authorities say an off-duty Detroit police officer fatally shot a teenager who was attempting to steal the officer's car at a gas station.

WXYZ-TV and WDIV-TV report the officer was in his car at a west side Detroit station early Tuesday morning when he was approached by the teen. Police say the officer shot the teen several times during the carjacking attempt.

The teen died at the scene. The officer was not hurt.

WXYZ says investigators are reviewing the gas station's surveillance video.

Saturday, Jul 5 at 3:11 AM Cousin wrote ...

Hi, I understand most of your comments, but please, don't EVER talk about my cousin bobby like that. His mom and dad weren't there for him, only his grandfather was. Leave my cousin Bobby alone. He did NOT deserve this.

Thursday, Jul 3 at 11:04 PM A Mother wrote ...

The family needs to be more upset at the fact that THEY didn't raise him better! It's partly their fault he ended up this way!

Thursday, Jul 3 at 10:23 PM AC wrote ...

The surveillance video shows the teen running at the officer with his gun drawn. The officer did what he was supposed to do and Im sure that I would have done the same thing under those circumstances. I heard the robbers family was upset about the number of times he was shot, how stupid. I never wanted to carry a gun for protection, but when I hear stories like this Im glad that I got my concealed pistol license.

Thursday, Jul 3 at 9:12 AM taiho tom wrote ...

he really had no other choice.it could of happened the opposite way.

Thursday, Jul 3 at 8:31 AM Rae, to Joel wrote ...

I didn't say give him a hug, you dummy, but take his life? Next time it might your child? Then what? Just kill all gangbangers huh? What about all these police officers get in trouble?.. Drugs, prositution, and domestic violence. Kill them too huh? Yeah right, let them go.

Thursday, Jul 3 at 3:54 AM michigonian wrote ...

This poor young man....he needed some proper upbringing..some one should be held responsible for NOT raising him.... NO one deserves to die unless they murder some one with malice and intention.

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 8:17 PM richard wrote ...

to the police officer. way to go my man you did the right thing.

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 5:42 PM gun wrote ...

That is why we should carry a gun

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 5:41 PM Jon wrote ...

I HOPE MORE THUGS END UP LIKE THAT. TEACH YOU GANG BANGING IDIOTS A LESSON OR TWO. GOOD JOB OFFICER. SHUTUP SEAMUS.

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 5:06 PM A Mother wrote ...

To Joel, that was my point! Seamus said, "Why not reach out and hold that precious teen?" My point was EXACTLY what you said. Could you imagine if the cop did that? Everyone would say the cop is a freak! There is no way in Hell, I would try to "reach out and hold" anyone who was trying to rob me! I'd shoot him, too!!!

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 4:37 PM Chris wrote ...

Seamus lives in la la land. Another thing, you can bet this kid didn't have parents, he was probably lucky to have one parent. These kids being brought into this world by unwed mothers aren't being raised up at all. I hate to say this but he was headed for a life of crime, thumbing his nose at law-abiding folks. We would have been paying for him to spend time in prison. Hopeless.

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 4:16 PM Anonymous wrote ...

not likely this was his 1st attempt at crime

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 3:43 PM JAMES wrote ...

Im sure he was a good BOY

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 3:06 PM charlie wrote ...

let me do the honor and get that man some fresh bullits.

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 1:45 PM Joel wrote ...

To Rae and Mother. It is EXACTLY your type that are creating a haven for criminals. Give the kid a hug??? Are you freakin serious??? Yeah, had he done that the little freak would of grabbed the cop's gun and shot him before taking the car. Most likely this kid's parents can shoulder at least 50% of the blame for him turning into a felon.

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 1:39 PM Joel wrote ...

Woo Hoo! Take one for the good guys.

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 1:35 PM Roy wrote ...

Seamus, you are an idiot. The Man held him down. The Man made him try to steal a car. WOW

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 1:17 PM Goshen wrote ...

Rae, of course we would feel the same. A lot of these carjackings end with the owners deaths. It's not a matter of losing your car, it's NOT losing your life. I'm just glad he picked a police officer and not, for example, you. At least the officer could defend himself! One more gone, thousands more to go...

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 12:58 PM mike wrote ...

I would say the same thing if it were my kid. While i would be VERY heartbroken he chose to steal or commit any crime, i realize crime doesnt pay.

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 12:47 PM Linda wrote ...

Rae, Do you understand he tried to hijack a car? Was the policeman supposed to give up his car. NO WAY! He should have got out of his car and kicked his butt up one side and down the other. I don't feel one bit sorry for this kid. He knows right from wrong and he chose the path of doing wrong. Karma is what they call it. You screw people over, it comes back to you and it came back to him. To bad, so sad for him!

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 12:15 PM Anonymous wrote ...

someone lost their child you all are heartless

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 12:07 PM Rae wrote ...

Some of you should be ashamed of yourself to think he deserved to be shot. The ones who need to be shot are rapist, child moslestors, murderers, etc. Put them out of their misery. They are the ones ruining and taking lives. What if that was your son, grandson or nephew? Would you still feel the same?

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 1:29 AM A Mother wrote ...

Could you imagine if the officer tried to HUG this kid? What a freak!

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 12:06 AM Buck wrote ...

Sounds like he got what he deserved. Things like this need to happen a little more often, and than maybe they would quit being law breakers.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 11:24 PM Brad wrote ...

What if this would have been some old person being taken advantage of. Now we won't have to warehouse and feed this person, GOOD! Let this be a lesson!

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 11:07 PM Guy who's been held up before wrote ...

Nice job!!!!!!

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 4:51 PM ldw wrote ...

Here's a thought...if you don't want to get shot, don't take things that belong to other people.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 4:05 PM So Bend wrote ...

I am so tired of the public blaming the police departments when these criminals killed in the act of committing a crime. The love and compassion should have started at HOME, with their parents. It is NOT the police officers duty to try and protect the criminal. They are there to protect the rest of the law abiding public and their own lives. You reap what you sow......

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 12:06 PM Anon. wrote ...

Everyone one knows the difference between right and wrong and when they choose to do wrong they need to pay the price. White, black, hispanic, it doesn't matter. No love or compassion needed for the criminals any more. It's time we serve justice to the victims and not protect the criminals. They loose all their rights when they choose to do the crime! If more justice was served like this there would be far more less crime!

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 10:41 AM Seamus wrote ...

Bloodthirst rages strong among us, does it not. Where was the compassion? Where was the love? Why not reach out, hold that precious teen, calm his frustration, douse his anger. No, instead fill his young body with hot violence, extinguish his flame. The Man is strong, the Man holds us down, with a gun and a badge.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 8:41 AM Linda wrote ...

That will be the last time that idiot tries to take something that doesn't belong to him. Bravo to the officer!

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 8:26 AM Anon. wrote ...

They should give the cop a medal. That seems to be the only efective way to keep these gang punks off the streets and tying up the court systems!

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 8:08 AM More Info Please wrote ...

Wow let the fall out begin here, did the teen have a gun, was there racial differences that will spark debates, what kind of car does the officer drive that warrents a car jacking just so much more that should be addressed

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