Teen shot after confronting car thief

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SAN JOSE, Calif – A 17-year-old teen was shot after confronting the suspect who stole her car. Per local media reports, the teen was shot in the upper right shoulder at close range.

According to CBS 5, the victim was talking to her friends outside the Oakridge Mall in San Jose. The suspect spotted the car when he was walking past, and apparently noticed that the keys were still in the ignition and the car was idling. He entered the vehicle and drove off. After the theft, the victim and her friends followed the suspect in another car and confronted him in traffic.

According to Sgt. Enrique Garcia, that’s when the suspect shot her.

Police are emphasizing that one should never pursue or confront a suspect and always call 9-1-1 when reporting an emergency or a crime in progress.

The victim was taken to the hospital with a non-life threatening injury. The suspect drove away but later abandoned the car.

The investigation is ongoing and the suspect is still at large.