Minneapolis officer fires gun when armed teen carjacker hits squad in stolen car, police say

Minneapolis police say an officer fired their service weapon Thursday afternoon after a teenage boy suspected of stealing a vehicle at gunpoint struck their squad car.

Officers were called to the area of West 31st Street and Pillsbury Avenue on reports of a person with a gun. While en route, they learned that it was an armed carjacking attempt. 

The suspect, a 16-year-old boy, tried to carjack someone, police say, but the driver of the car drove away in fear. The boy then carjacked a different driver and drove from the scene in the stolen car. 

Police tracked the car to Pleasant Avenue and Lake Street. A squad car moved to intercept the stolen vehicle and stopped mid-block. The stolen car then hit the squad car, which is when police say the officer opened fire.

The boy fled the area on foot, but officers eventually took him into custody. Police say the boy was then transported to an area hospital for "evaluation of reported pain and mental health concerns."

Police say one officer suffered "a small cut to the face," while another suffered "a minor ankle injury." The officer who fired their weapon was not injured. 

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is leading the investigation.