DES MOINES, Iowa – Des Moines police say one teen is dead and another hospitalized after the two stole a car, shot up another car, and crashed while police were looking for the car Monday night.
UPDATE 9:00 a.m. Police identify the 16-year-old who died as Emilio Esteban Garcia of Des Moines. The 17-year-old remains hospitalized in critical condition.
It all got started at 8:11 p.m. when officers responded to a report of a stolen car taken from the 1800 block of Jefferson Avenue. The victim told police the gold-colored sedan was left running for a short time unattended and that’s when it was stolen.
WHO Channel 13 reports police were called to the 1400 block of Rosehedge Drive about 15 minutes later on a report of gunfire. The suspect vehicle in the case matched the description of the vehicle that was stolen earlier.
At 8:52 p.m. a Des Moines police officer that was already responding to the shots fired call on Rosehedge spotted a vehicle matching the description of the one involved in both previous incidents. The officer was heading northbound on 30th Street when they reported the car heading southbound on 30th at Hickman Road. The officer turned around, but the suspect vehicle was already out of sight.
Another northbound officer came upon the accident. The suspect vehicle had crashed into a USPS delivery van, then into trees and fencing at the intersection of 30th Street and Jefferson Avenue.
Police say the two people inside the suspect car were taken to local hospitals. The 16-year-old male passenger has since died. The 17-year-old male driver is listed in critical condition.
The driver of the USPS van was not injured.
Police say they found a gun inside the suspect vehicle and are continuing their investigation.