A 17-year-old suspected in an attempted car burglary was shot by a Rockledge Police officer while being apprehended late Thursday night, the department said.

  • Rockledge officer shoots teen crime suspect
  • 17-year-old passenger in fleeing vehicle shot
  • Police chief: Teen did not have weapon on him
  • FDLE is investigating

The teen boy has not yet been charged and is in stable condition at a hospital, Rockledge Police Chief Joseph LaSata said during a news conference Friday afternoon, where he showed body-camera footage captured by Cpl. Nick Galluzzi during the arrest.

LaSata said the teen did not have a weapon on him. He said there may have been a firearm in the car.

Around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to the area of Serengeti Way after reports of a car burglary. Witnesses told officers they saw two men get into a white car and flee the area.

The fleeing car, driven by a 15-year-old boy, hit an officer's patrol car as it left the scene, police said. The pursuit ended in a crash at the end of Cogswell and Hawk streets, just east of Fiske Boulevard.

LaSata said that the teens both fled. The 15-year-old was apprehended about two hours later on the porch of a nearby home. The 17-year-old was apprehended at the scene and was shot during the encounter by Galluzzi. In the body-camera footage, the 17-year-old is heard wailing and says he kept moving his arms because he was scared. "I'm just a teenager," a voice is heard saying.

Galluzzi, a 17-year law enforcement veteran who is the force's SWAT commander, has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted, as per standard policy. He has hired an attorney, according to LaSata.

LaSata said the 15-year-old left evidence at the scene. His felony charges include grand theft, burglary of an unoccupied vehicle and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Pierre also faces charges of aggravated fleeing the scene of a crash and violation of probation.

"There is an active investigation going into the officer involved shooting. Again, nothing is more important to the Rocklege Police Department than to be transparent and protect the partnership with our community," LaSata said Friday.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.