Teenager caught breaking into vehicles shot after deputies return fire: MCSO

BRADENTON, Fla. - A teenager was injured in an officer-involved shooting early Friday morning in Bradenton after he was caught checking door handles on vehicles, according to the sheriff's office. 

1:30 a.m. brought a commotion outside Mike Lovy’s home at Grove Mobile Home Park.

"A lot of screaming outside, a helicopter overhead and six gunshots," he told FOX 13.

Bullet holes could be seen through a TV, window, door, vase and a wall. 

"Just a night or two before that we’ve been staying up watching movies, because the weather was so bad. We weren’t even going to bed till 2 a.m. This time we went to bed at midnight and this happened an hour later, got to be glad we are alive," said Delores Benhocchi. 

And they aren’t the only ones. 

"Early this morning we knew that we were very blessed and very lucky" said Manatee County Sheriff Rick Well. 

According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the 1000 block of 47th Ave. Dr. E. in Bradenton at around 1:30 a.m. for a suspect who was seen checking door handles on vehicles. 

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Deputies arrived at the Grove Mobile Home Park and found the 17-year-old suspect entering a vehicle. At around 1:50 a.m., deputies with a K-9 unit initiated verbal commands, and the suspect fled on foot, according to MCSO. 

The suspect fired multiple rounds at deputies, and a deputy fired multiple rounds back at the suspect, striking him in the left leg, according to the sheriff's office. 

Sheriff Rick Wells said the shooting was clearly visible from the department’s helicopter recording. 

"Seeing the close proximity of this encounter. Seeing that muzzle flash, know that my deputy was really inches. One inch here or there could have taken him from us," said Sheriff Wells. 

Deputies then secured the suspect and began to render aid until EMS arrived. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment where he remains in custody. He faces two counts of attempted murder while engaged in a felony, use of a deadly weapon on a police animal, and armed burglary. 

The 17-year-old is days away from turning 18. Sheriff Wells said his past includes two arrests for breaking into vehicles and one for domestic violence. 

"I will be shocked if I don’t come back and tell you several weeks from now that a gun wasn’t stolen from a previous vehicle burglary," he said. 

With burglaries of unlocked cars continuing and stolen guns being used in violent crimes, Sheriff Wells pleads for everyone to listen. 

"They’re going to keep using these guns, and they’re going to keep victimizing innocent civilians and law enforcement if we don’t take this seriously and do the right thing," the sheriff said. "And that is take your gun into your home or secure it in your vehicle and lock your door."

No deputies, K-9 deputy, or others were injured in the incident. The deputy is on routine paid administrative leave while an investigation into the shooting is conducted, which is standard protocol.