NJ Teen Shot By Police During Chase Faces Assault, Gun Charges

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A 14-year-old boy who was shot by police this month after they say he pointed a gun at them during a foot chase in New Jersey's capital city was charged Tuesday with aggravated assault and gun charges.

Law enforcement officers and witnesses said the boy pointed a .22-caliber handgun at the officers when two state troopers and a Mercer County sheriff's officer began to chase him Aug. 7, the Attorney General's office said in a statement announcing the charges.

He was charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, third-degree aggravated assault, and fourth-degree possession of a defaced firearm.

The teen has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the Attorney General's office, said a judge will order him to appear once he's medically cleared.

An attorney representing his family didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

Investigators said the gun was found the following morning under the tire of an emergency response vehicle.

The incident has drawn protests in Trenton, including from first-term U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, who has called for federal investigators to take over the case from the attorney general's office.

The Attorney General's Shooting Response Team is continuing to investigate whether the officers were justified to use force.

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