Teen in stolen car outside Gentilly restaurant shot by vehicle's owner; owner jailed

A teenager sitting in a stolen car parked outside a restaurant in Gentilly late Monday was confronted by the vehicle’s owner and shot in the chest, according to New Orleans police.

Terrance Johnson, 45, faces a count of aggravated second-degree battery in the shooting of the 17-year-old youth, who remained hospitalized Tuesday.

It was not clear whether New Orleans police would book the teenager with a crime, such as illegal possession of a stolen auto. But the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office issued a statement saying he was wanted on a count of vehicle burglary and theft of a firearm following a series of car break-ins in Arabi a few hours before he was shot. According to police, surveillance video from the Waffle House in the 4600 block of Old Gentilly Road showed Johnson walking across the restaurant’s parking lot to his car. He pulled out a pistol and began arguing with the 17-year-old, who got out of the car, police said Johnson and the boy then began fighting outside the vehicle, and the boy was shot in the right side of his chest. Johnson waited until police arrived and was ultimately booked.

Paramedics took the teen to the hospital. His condition wasn’t available Tuesday. Damn