CARLSBAD — A 16-year-old boy was shot in the right arm by Carlsbad police early Saturday morning after turning toward officers with a gun that he pulled from under a truck seat, authorities said.
Paramedics rushed the teenager to a hospital, where he was expected to survive his injuries, said San Diego police Lt. Jud Campbell.
He was with an adult and three other teenagers in a truck parked in a dirt lot near Carlsbad Boulevard and Palomar Airport Road. Officers contacted them at about 12:45 a.m., who noticed alcoholic beverages inside the vehicle, Campbell said.
The 16-year-old was sitting in the front passenger seat and exited the vehicle before being asked. He allegedly began reaching under the passenger seat, he said.
“Officers immediately ordered him to stop reaching under the seat. The juvenile pulled a firearm from under the seat and turned toward one of the officers,” Campbell said. “At that point, one officer fired one time from his service weapon striking the juvenile.”
The boy ran west toward the ocean and either jumped or fell down the side of the cliff. Officers could reach him and take him into custody, he said.
“A firearm was located in the general area where the juvenile was apprehended down the cliff side,” Campbell said. “Detectives are in the process of recovering that firearm and processing the scene.”
The officer who fired his weapon has been employed with the department since May 2023. He was assigned to patrol.
Anyone with any information regarding the incident was asked to call the department’s Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580- 8477.
Check out The Coast News’ Weekly Crime Reports and Daily Arrest Logs for up-to-the-minute arrest reports in North County. Read more local crime news here. For more information about arrests, cold cases and active alerts, please visit the San Diego County Sheriff’s website.
