Teen Shot By Police Faces Charges

POSTED: 8:41 am CDT August 16, 2007

HOUSTON -- A teenager who was shot by a police officer after a chase has been charged with a felony, KPRC Local 2 reported. Houston police said Brittanee King, 18, has been charged with felony evading arrest.

Investigators said an officer tried to stop King after a passenger allegedly threw trash out of her car early Tuesday. She refused to stop and led officers on a chase to an apartment complex in the 7300 block of North Wayside Drive, officials said.

King refused to comply with commands to show her hands and stop moving, police said. Officer Patrick Caraway said he saw an object in King's hand and shot her because he felt his life was in danger.

Police said King suffered a gunshot wound to her left hand. She was arrested and transported to Ben Taub Hospital in stable condition.

King's mother said she believed the object the officer saw was her daughter's bracelet.

King's passenger, Floydrick Washington, jumped out of the car and ran before the shooting, police said. Officers caught up with him and placed him under arrest.

Washington had an outstanding warrant for his arrest on robbery charges, detectives said. He is a suspect in several robbery cases and allegedly was in possession of counterfeit money. Additional charges are pending against him, police said.