What should be done with this juvenile?

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No one was injured when shots were fired at police officers in eastern Tuscaloosa Monday night, and investigators have a teenage suspect in custody they believe was responsible.

Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said Tuscaloosa Police officers were patrolling in the 600 block of 23rd Avenue East in a marked car due to a report of a shooting the day before that injured no one.

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officers saw a person rapidly walk between two houses as they approached, and when their patrol vehicle passed that space, the person was reportedly crouched between the two houses with a firearm in his hand, wearing a mask.

"The suspect fired at least 8 rounds in rapid succession at the officers, who accelerated and drove past the suspect," Kennedy said. "The suspect was then observed running away and jumping fences. The officers did not stop, or otherwise make any contact with the suspect, and were merely driving along the street when they were fired upon. The officers did not return fire. The patrol vehicle was not struck, but an occupied residence was struck on the opposite side of the street

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Kennedy said officers saw a person rapidly walk between two houses as they approached, and when their patrol vehicle passed that space, the person was reportedly crouched between the two houses with a firearm in his hand, wearing a mask.

"The suspect fired at least 8 rounds in rapid succession at the officers, who accelerated and drove past the suspect," Kennedy said. "The suspect was then observed running away and jumping fences. The officers did not stop, or otherwise make any contact with the suspect, and were merely driving along the street when they were fired upon. The officers did not return fire. The patrol vehicle was not struck, but an occupied residence was struck on the opposite side of the street."

Forensic and video evidence clearly show the suspect was firing at the police, Kennedy said.

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Officers set up a perimeter and began a search for the suspect, and the VCU was called out to investigate. Because a TPD officer was involved, only investigators from other agencies were tasked with handling the investigation.

"After speaking with witnesses from the neighborhood, as well as reviewing the officer’s dash cam and body cam, and multiple sources of surveillance video, a 15-year-old juvenile was developed as a suspect," Kennedy said. "The suspect was located later that evening, and after executing search warrants, the firearm believed to have been used was also located."

The VCU is forbidden by law from identifying juvenile suspects but said the young person has been charged with two counts of Attempted Murder and Shooting into an Occupied Residence and committed to juvenile detention.

Kennedy said police believe this suspect was also involved in the shots fired which were reported the previous day

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