Police Unintentionally Shoot Suspect During Attempted Burglary In Laurel

LAUREL, Md. (WJZ) -- Investigators responding to an alarm at a Laurel grocery store late Sunday night captured a teenage burglary suspect and shot and wounded a second suspect, according to police.

Officers arriving at Indus Food Market, located on 4th Street, after 11 p.m. captured a 15-year-old suspect fleeing from the scene. Police say the suspect refused police commands to stop, and an officer deployed a taser.

The 15-year-old was hospitalized and later released to his mother.

During the investigation, four officers searched the business with their weapons drawn. Police say one officer opened the back door of the business, transferred the gun from one hand to another and shot a 20-year-old suspect after he became startled.

"The officer sees movement in the dark -down in a drop off just inside the door," said a spokesperson for the Laurel Police Department. "He's startled, jumps back a little, and his weapon discharges--striking a 20 year old man who was lying on some sheet metal stacked up in the drop off."

The wounded suspect was taken to MedStar and is listed in stable condition after undergoing surgery, according to police.

"The officer-- a 17 year veteran of the Force, who is a Swat team member and firearms instructor, immediately rendered first aid to the injured suspect-- even consoling him during the process, while an ambulance was in route," said officials.

The incident marks the first police-involved shooting in Laurel since 2003.

The officer who shot the suspect has been placed on paid leave, which is routine for any police-involved shooting.

Laurel Police say this is the third burglary-or attempted burglary of the Indus Market since November 2015 when thieves broke in and stole $5,000.

The store was burglarized again in December and the thieves stole $8,000.  Detectives are working to determine if all three of these burglaries could be related.

Investigators have not announced charges against the suspects at this time.

Video of this incident is expected to be released at a later date.