Teen Facing a Variety of Charges after Shooting Incident

TYLER — A teenager remains in custody today following a weekend incident at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. Shortly after 12:15 Saturday morning officers responded to a call at the center of shots being fired. The officers found a 16 year old from Kansas City, Missouri in a secured hallway within the facility. The youth had a gun to his head attempting to get officers to shoot him. They were able to convince him to put the gun down.

The youth had been arrested Friday night at the Tyler bus station. Around 9:00pm, Tyler Police received information that the juvenile was on a bus from Kansas City, Missouri to Tyler and he had outstanding warrants. He is wanted for assault, failure to appear, and being a runaway. Officers contacted the teen on the bus and took him into custody.

He was transported him to the Tyler Police Department and then to the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. While the he was being held in a secured intake room in the facility, he gained access to his personal duffel bag that contained a handgun hidden in his clothing. He took the handgun from the bag and fired several shots within the intake holding room. The intake officer took cover and was not injured. Tyler police spokesman Don Martin says no juveniles housed in the facility were in any danger during the incident. The teen had been searched at the time of the arrest; however his bag was not searched prior to being placed into the trunk of the patrol vehicle.

The juvenile was transported to East Texas Medical Center for minor injuries he sustained by cut glass during the incident. He was treated and released back into the custody of officers. The youth was charged with aggravated assault on a public servant, possessing a deadly weapon in a penal institution, possession of controlled substance marijuana and directive to apprehend from Missouri.