A 14-year-old boy is seriously hurt after he and other teens were approached by men who tried to steal his jacket and one opened fire, authorities in Hyattsville, Maryland, said Friday. A nearby high school was locked down as a precaution.
The teen who was shot was taken to a hospital in “critical but stable” condition,” Hyattsville Police Chief Jarod Towers said.
The search for the shooter is ongoing.
Three “young teenagers” were walking when they were approached by three men, Towers said. The men tried to take the 14-year-old’s jacket, and the two groups began to fight. One of the men pulled out a handgun and shot the teen once.
We're making it easier for you to find stories that matter with our new newsletter — The 4Front. Sign up here and get news that is important for you to your inbox.
Everyone except the wounded teen ran away. A witness called for help and stayed with the victim until police arrived. The men were not able to steal the jacket, police said.
Hyattsville officers responded to the 3500 block of Carnaby Street, in a neighborhood of new townhouses west of Adelphi Road, at about 12:05 p.m.
Northwestern High School was placed on lockdown as a precaution, Towers said. Police said they couldn’t say whether any of the six people involved are Northwestern High students.
Police said in an update that the jacket was the brand Moose Knuckles, whose jackets start at about $900.
A number of jackets by another high-end brand, Canada Goose, have recently been stolen in the D.C. area.
The police chief said he was sorry to see a young person wounded and a community traumatized over a jacket.
“It’s absurd. It’s just another example of ruthless crime,” he said.
One resident said he’s interested in talking with his neighbors about safety concerns.
“I think this is the wake-up call for us,” he said.
Anyone with potentially relevant information is asked to contact police.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
