Police: Suspect shot, killed by officer was 16

Teen killed was running from stolen car after ramming police cruiser, JSO says

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 16-year-old running from a stolen car was shot and killed by a police officer Thursday, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.

Police identified the teen Friday as Kendre Alston. He had an arrest record that included burglary, grand theft, resisting an officer without violence and criminal mischief.

Alston was driving a stolen car, according to JSO, and tried to ram a police cruiser trying to exit a cemetery. After a pursuit, Alston crashed on a dirt road behind homes on Helena Street, in a neighborhood near the intersection of 45th Street and Moncrief Road.

Police said Alston and a passenger got out with guns in their hands, but the passenger dropped his and ran in one direction. Officers said Alston kept his gun and ran in the other direction. Sgt. J.C. Nobles fired twice while running after Alston, then twice more when Alston crouched down and turned in his direction.

Alston was taken to UF Health Jacksonville, where he died.

Police said the situation unfolded quickly. The time from the first call of the officer's car being rammed to the point when shots were fired was only about 1 minute, according to JSO.

Police have the weapon Alston brandished and another silver weapon that was thrown from the car during the chase in evidence.

The second suspect was not captured at the scene and is considered armed and dangerous. He was described as a young black man with dreadlocks pulled back in a ponytail, 6 feet tall and weighing between 160 and 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and khaki pants running northeast from the area.

The manhunt for the passenger included a helicopter, K-9 teams, officers on the ground with weapons out and door-to-door searches.

Anyone with any information about the wanted man is asked to call 911.

This is the first confirmed officer-involved shooting of the year. In another incident last week, both officers and a homeowner fired shots at a burglar, but it wasn't known which bullet hit the suspect.


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Tarik anchors the 4, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. weekday newscasts and reports with the I-TEAM.