Suspected Carjacker Put Into Critical Condition By Vehicle’s Gun-Carrying Owner

In a turn of events at an Atlanta gas station, a suspected teenage carjacker found himself critically injured after being shot by the vehicle’s armed owner. The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of December 15 on Martin Luther King Jr Dr., sparked an investigation by the Atlanta Police Department.

According to preliminary reports, the 17-year-old suspect was allegedly attempting to break into an unattended car when the vehicle’s owner, who was carrying a gun, confronted and shot him. The Atlanta Police Department responded to the scene around 1:38 am, finding the teenager with a gunshot wound. He was promptly transported to the hospital in critical condition.

APD reported, “Preliminary investigation indicates the victim was shot while entering an unattended automobile. Investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation remains active at this time.”

The shooter has yet to be found.

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APD suggested that the teenager may have been attempting to either steal a car or enter an unlocked vehicle with the intention of taking items from inside it. Authorities are of the opinion that the vehicle’s owner shot at the person and subsequently left the scene.

Law enforcement officials have identified the teenager, who remains unnamed, as a suspect in multiple car thefts across Atlanta. His criminal record includes a previous arrest in September 2023 for reckless driving, altering license plates, and operating a vehicle without a license.

Additionally, in May 2023, he was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm, a notable charge given that he was under the age of 18 at the time. His most recent arrest related to auto theft occurred in June 2022, where he was charged as a juvenile for theft by taking an auto.

Authorities plan to take him into custody as soon as he recovers from his injuries.