TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — The Tulsa Police Department reported that early Sunday morning, officers responded to an attempted larceny which led to the teen suspects eluding police.
On Sunday, TPD received a call about an attempted larceny of a paper tag at a home near 8300 East 65th Street.
The victim of the attempted larceny told officers that three suspects tried to steal his car’s paper tag. The victim also said that as the suspects fled the scene, shots were fired into the air.
TPD recovered several shell casings from the street where the incident occurred.
The victim described the car as a white Audi with a black and yellow New Mexico tag. TPD revealed that the car was stolen.
While looking for the suspects’ car, Tulsa Lieutenant Bristow noticed a car matching the description with a paper tag driving around the Woodland Hills Mall.
TPD said the car turned into a nearby Walmart and exited back onto 68th.
Bristow tried to stop the car but it fled northbound on Memorial at a high speed. TPD said Bristow self-terminated the pursuit due to the high speed and rain.
As the suspects’ car continued to flee, it tried to turn East onto 51st Street and then collided head-on with a person stopped at the light.
The three suspects immediately got out of the car and fled on foot.
TPD said after short pursuits on foot, three teenagers, 15, 16, and 17, were taken into custody. The 16-year-old and 17-year-old are both tribal citizens.
Handgun magazines and ammunition were found inside the car.
According to surveillance video from a Walgreens located at 51st and Memorial, one suspect was seen fleeing with a gun in hand.
TPD says the 16-year-old suspect has had contact with law enforcement several times for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a firearm, robbery, and failure to appear. The suspect’s encounters were dismissed for Lack of Jurisdiction.
The 17-year-old suspect had three felonies for possession of a stolen vehicle, felony eluding, and a felony hit-and-run. TPD was instructed by tribal officials to release the suspect to his parents. Tulsa police said when it contacted his mother, she said she was aware that her son and his friends were out stealing cars.