Abilene, Texas

From the Abilene Reporter-News of May 5, 2005

Boy, 14, sentenced to juvenile facility

A juvenile who was shot by a pizza delivery driver after attempting to rob him in March was sent this week to a state juvenile facility.

The 14-year-old boy was placed in a facility overseen by the Texas Youth Commission, the state's juvenile correction agency, said Harriett Haag, Taylor County's juvenile prosecutor. The placement of the boy stems from a March 17 incident in which Abilene police said two armed juveniles were shot by a Pizza Hut delivery driver after they attempted to rob him. A third boy also was involved.

The minimum stay in the facility is generally two years, Haag said. After the boy is released from the facility, the state will continue to supervise him until he turns 21, she said.

Cases involving two other juveniles connected with the shooting are pending in the district attorney's office, Haag said.

Police originally investigated the incident in the 1300 block of Westmoreland Street as a drive-by shooting. During the investigation, the 35-year-old pizza delivery driver called police and told them he had just shot two juveniles who tried to rob him, according to police.

A 16-year-old boy was shot in the head and was treated and released.

The 14-year-old boy was shot in the chest. He was released from Hendrick Medical Center and detained by police in April.

A third boy, also 16, who police suspected to be involved turned himself in, said Sgt. Kim Vickers.

The pizza delivery driver did not have a permit to carry a gun. Taylor County District Attorney James Eidson said Abilene police have not sent his office a case about the driver.