A teenage shoplifting spree turned dangerous in East Palo Alto last week when a 15-year-old suspect was found armed with a loaded "ghost gun" after a scuffle with police. The boy, described as a towering 6-foot-5 and weighing 240 pounds, allegedly resisted arrest and bolted from officers outside a Target store.
The pursuit began on November 29 when Patrol Officers responded to a shoplifting call at the retail giant's location. According to a statement released by the City of East Palo Alto Police, the suspects were caught walking away from the scene of the alleged crime, initiating a confrontation that would escalate beyond stolen merchandise. The young man, alongside two accomplices, seemed to be making a typical teenage mistake, but the discovery of a 9mm ghost gun—a firearm without a serial number and often homemade—signaled a more alarming twist to the escapade.
The officers attempted to detain the trio, and while the initial resistance from the 15-year-old was passive, the situation quickly intensified when he learned of his impending handcuffing. In the blink of an eye, the suspect shirked the officers' grasp and dashed into the streets of East Palo Alto, prompting a chase. The officers managed to apprehend him only after a short pursuit, whereupon they made the shocking gun discovery.
The teenager was subsequently booked into juvenile hall, and the severity of the charges he now faces is compounded by the nature of the weapon in his possession. The ghost gun issue has been a pressing concern for lawmakers and law enforcement alike due to their lack of traceability and the ease with which they can be acquired.
