Noble Road Shooting: Teen Stole Car, In Serious Condition

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Police believe a 17-year-old was shot while trying to steal a car at Gas USA on Sunday. The teenager crashed the stolen vehicle and is now in serious condition at a local hospital.

Investigators said a gray Ford Fiesta pulled into Gas USA and the driver, a 32-year-old man, ran into the store. The man left his car running while he was inside.

The 17-year-old then got into the Ford's driver seat. When the Fiesta's driver came out of the store, and saw the teenager in his car, he pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the 17-year-old. The teen started to drive away and the man fired his gun three times into the car, police said.

Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg confirmed the teenager did suffered a gunshot wound. He is in serious condition, but no other info on his health is available.

After being shot, the teenager drove the Fiesta out of the parking lot and onto Noble Road, where he hit a car going north. The 17-year-old kept driving and hit another car when he tried to turn north onto Englewood from Monticello. His car came to a rest after the second accident.

The teenager was pulled out of the crashed Fiesta by three people that had been driving with him prior to the car theft, police said. He was driven to a local hospital for medical attention. Two people in that car, one adult and one person under 18, were detained by police.

Late on Sunday evening, the 32-year-old man driving the Fiesta turned himself into police. He is currently in custody at Cleveland Heights Police Department, according to Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg.

The juvenile that was detained by police has been transferred to Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center and may face criminal charges.

Charges have not been filed against any adults in the case, but the investigation is ongoing, Mecklenburg said.

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Cleveland Heights residents have called for increased police patrols near Noble and Monticello Boulevard, where the shooting took place.

Photo from Renee Schiavone, Patch