VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Two teens are facing charges after Virginia Beach police said they shot at an officer conducting surveillance overnight in the city's Level Green area. Police are searching for additional suspects.
It happened around 2:15 a.m. Wednesday in the 1100 block of Craftsman Drive where officers were conducting surveillance following a recent auto theft, police said.
Police said several suspects shot at an officer in an unmarked vehicle. The officer returned fire and left the area.
The officer was not shot, but he was treated for injuries related to broken glass, police said.
The suspects all ran away, but officers say they eventually found two of them, a 16-year-old from Norfolk and a 16-year-old from Virginia Beach. They're charged with tampering with an automobile, shooting at a vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a juvenile.
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There’s currently no information on the other suspects who got away, and authorities say they don’t believe anyone was hit by police gunfire.
Derek Wright, who lives nearby said he heard about 15 gunshots and saw several police cars within seconds. He said his car was hit by gunfire twice.
"When I tried to leave to go to work, they told me I couldn't leave because my car was shot at," Wright said.
Wright said police believe that the bullets are still somewhere in his car.
An office building in the area also had its windows shattered by gunshots.
"We have two 16-year-olds with guns at 2:00 in the morning," said Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate. "Where is the parental oversight?"
Virginia Beach police are investigating, and afterward, they’ll turn all evidence over to the Virginia Beach Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, who will decide if legal violations occurred, officials said.
The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office is also conducting a separate, independent investigation.
Once the investigations are done, the police department's Internal Affairs Bureau will conduct an administrative review to decide if the actions taken during the incident align with the department’s policies.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call VBPD at 757-385-4101 or the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
"There were two guns last night, so there are some gun charges for those two individuals. There are some outstanding individuals. It wasn't just those two involved," Neudigate said. "The streets talk. Someone is talking, and someone has a very good idea of these individuals who were involved."
Stay with News 3 for updates.
