An unarmed Trenton teenager was shot seven times Friday night while he was trying to run away from police, according to a lawyer for his family.
“He’s lucky to be alive,” lawyer Samuel A. Anyan Jr. of the 14-year-old Radazz Hearns told NJ.com. “We’ll be seeking justice. This appears to be an unjustified shooting.”
Hearns is currently in stable condition at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton.
According to the Attorney General’s office, two State Police troopers and a Mercer County sheriff’s officer were investigating a report of shots being fired when they came upon three males walking down the street. When they stopped the group to question them, Hearns ran off. The officers then fired at the boy at least 10 times, striking him with seven.
“Those police were amped and they didn’t give that little boy a chance,” said witness Rhonda Tirado, reports NJ.com. “There was no room for no chase. They just shot that little boy right there.”
“I don’t think those little boys had no clue what was going on,” Tirado said. “I think they was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
As for allegations that Hearns had been reaching for his waistband, Tirado said that she saw him grab his sweatpants to keep them from falling.
Anyan told the news outlet that from what he understands, the officers were not in standard uniform and emerged from an unmarked car, causing his client to run.
The incident is still under investigation, with the officers involved on administrative leave until the results of the investigation come forward.