Teenager holding toy gun shot by deputy

By WIRE SERVICES

Story Created: May 11, 2009 at 11:25 AM PST

Story Updated: May 12, 2009 at 11:58 AM PST

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PALMDALE — A 15-year-old shot by a deputy while riding a bicycle and carrying a toy gun in Palmdale was recovering in a hospital Monday, according to the Sheriff's Department.

The boy was shot about 7:55 p.m. Sunday on 20th Street East at Avenue Q-10, said Deputy Jeff Gordon of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

According to broadcast reports, the boy is 15 years old and was playing cops and robbers with some friends when he encountered the sheriff's deputy, who was responding to a burglary report.

It was also reported that someone in the area had called authorities to report seeing a teenager with a gun.

``The kids, they were playing cops and robbers ... I come running outside and the kid's lying on the sidewalk and it looks like he has a gunshot wound to his back and his midsection on the front,'' a witness told Fox11.

The boy was airlifted to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills with a gunshot wound to his torso, according to Channel 11.

He was in stable condition and is expected to survive, Gordon said.

Neighbors told the TV station the toy appeared to be a plastic gun with an orange tip.

``I witnessed a boy on a bike with a helmet and he was holding his bike and I saw what I think was a plastic gun,'' a witness told Channel 11.

The boy allegedly pointed the toy gun at the deputy and ignored an order to drop it before being shot, according to the Sheriff's Department.

No deputies were hurt.

The shooting is under investigation.

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follow up? said on Sunday, Nov 22 at 7:17 PM

So WAVE how about a follow up to the investigation. Was the kid pointing the gun at the officer? Sounds like plenty of witnesses! Did the boy recover? How about some info!

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Anonymous said on Thursday, Sep 24 at 5:11 AM

it says it was a plastic gun with an orange tip which means it was an airsoft

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mateus said on Tuesday, Jun 30 at 7:56 AM

i love toy holding guns dãããããããã~~aãããã~~aãã

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Kevin Burner said on Wednesday, May 13 at 1:23 PM

A 15-year-old kid should know better than to point a realistic gun at a cop. He was asking for it. This is Darwinism at work ...survival of the fittest (or conversely, elimination of the stupidest.)

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Interested Observer said on Wednesday, May 13 at 11:51 AM

horesenation: You're kidding right? Witnesses say the kid with the gun. So you're saying the deputy, for no reason shot the 15-year-old. A tragedy to be sure, but at least he didn't die. But believe it or not, some people paint the barrels of real guns different colors hoping cops won't shoot. Unfortunately, cops don't have the luxury of waiting to be shot at to determine if it's a real gun or not. It certainly should be investigated, and it will. Then see what the results are. Don't prejudge!!

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horsenation said on Tuesday, May 12 at 10:18 PM

Hard to believe a 15yo would point his toy gun to a cop. Sounds like an excuse to me. I hope this gets investigated and truthfully revealed. There's too many idiots among today's cops.

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