Teen Robbery Suspect Fatally Shot By Off-Duty Officer

The mother of a teen who was fatally shot while he was allegedly attempting to rob an off-duty agent is speaking out about her son’s death.

Three teens from Pasadena, California, reportedly attempted to rob an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officer, but things took a turn when the officer pulled out a gun. The agent says he fired shots at the teens in self-defense, as one of the teens was armed.

Two of the three teens, ages 14 and 15, who are cousins, were shot by the officer and taken to a nearby hospital. The 15-year-old suspect died from his wounds, while the 14-year-old remains in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the LAist. A third suspect was not injured and was taken into custody following the shooting.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the officer was walking in Arcadia at around 8:15 p.m. on May 26 when the three teens attacked him from behind, demanding his money and property at gunpoint. Deputy Caroline Rodriguez says that the officer then “shot at the subjects in an effort to defend himself.”

Officials say the customs officer was not seriously hurt in the attack. He was bruised but did not require medical treatment.

Reshawna Myricks, the mother of the teen who died, disputed the officer’s account of the incident.

“I’m hurt,” Myricks told KCAL. “I’m hurt! I’m hurt, I’m hurt. I’m hurt. You all robbed me to the core.”

The mother continued, “They going to walk home, they’re going to see their kids tonight. I got to go back and tell my other three that one of them ain’t coming back no more.”

Myricks says she does not believe her son and his cousin would do what they are accused of doing.

“Them boys didn’t do that,” she said. “They aren’t those type of boys to do that.”

According to the sheriff’s department, the officer had bruises on his face and what was later discovered to be a replica handgun was found at the scene.

The mother continues to question the reports.

“First, they said there was no crime committed,” she said. “Now there is a crime committed. Now it’s a gun, then they said there was a fight. I don’t know what to believe. All I know is my baby [is] gone and I’ll never know his story.”

According to KCAL, deputies hope that video recordings will reveal what happened that night. Cameras were recording nearby on the Gold Line light rail line, as well as outside nearby businesses. Due to the holiday weekend, detectives have not yet been able to access the videos.

Sources: KCAL, LAist / Photo credit: Highway Patrol Images/Wikimedia Commons