A man saw someone stealing from his neighbor in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Tuesday night and shot the 17-year-old suspect when he pointed what appeared to be two guns in his direction, authorities say.
About 10 p.m., a woman saw the teen inside her car on Forbidden Forest Circle, the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's office said. When she confronted him, he pulled a mask over his face and began to walk away with stuff he stole from her car, according to the sheriff's office.
She followed the teen and yelled for him to stop. Then, a neighbor and his wife got into their car to try to intervene, the sheriff's office said.
They called 911 and told the operator they were following the suspect and were trying to stop him, authorities said.
They then pulled their car in front of the suspect, and the man got out of the car while telling the suspect to stop, the sheriff's office said.
That's when the teen turned around and pointed what appeared to be two guns in their direction, according to the sheriff.
The man fired at the suspect, shooting him in the leg, the sheriff's office said.
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Investigators said the suspect ran to a nearby home in the area of Harrison Road and North Dickerson and asked the residents to call 911.
The man who shot the teen has a valid concealed weapon permit and cooperated with law enforcement.
Deputies discovered both guns were toy guns that were painted black.
The suspect was charged with brandishing a firearm, wearing a mask in public and petit larceny, the sheriff's office said.
He was treated at a hospital and then transported to the Rappahannock Juvenile Detention Center.
