NORFOLK — The police shooting of a 15-year-old boy who stabbed his mother and set their apartment on fire was justified, officials say.
Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Gregory D. Underwood released a letter on Monday saying that his office won’t seek charges against the Norfolk Police Department officer who shot the boy on July 20, 2016 because he acted in self-defense.
Before the shooting occurred, officers responded to an apartment, located at 2334 Maltby Ave., because a 911 called was placed informing them that the boy had stabbed his mother and was threatening to burn down their apartment building, according to the letter.
When officers arrived at the apartment, the boy rushed at one of them with a knife. Although the officer told him to stop and moved away from him, the boy ignored his warnings.
The officer shot him, wounding him. The boy and his mother were taken to a local hospital, where they survived their injuries, the letter states.
The boy is charged with malicious wounding, arson and threatening to kill, bomb, burn or destroy. He has not been tried in court because on July 12 he was found unrestorably incompetent to stand trial. He was committed to a juvenile psychiatric treatment program, and the charges are still pending against him.
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