Teenager Shot By Tulsa Police In Standoff After Armed Robbery

A 17-year-old is recovering after he was shot by police. Officers opened fire after they say the teen pointed his gun at them.

It all started Sunday night at the U-Stop Convenience store on Mohawk Boulevard.

Police say two men robbed the clerk at gunpoint, then ran across the street to the Mohawk Manor apartment complex, and that's where a five-hour standoff took place.

Franki Short is one of the five families that had to evacuate from the Mohawk Manor Apartments late Sunday night.

"It was really intense. I thought I was watching an episode of some kind of crime show," Short said.

Short said the complex was crawling with police, who were on the hunt for two men officers say just robbed a convenience store at gunpoint.

"There's so many stores around here that they could hit. Why would they come here?" said Christi Bores, an employee of U-Stop.

Police say the men demanded money and cigarettes, then they ran across the street to get away.

Investigators are still trying to figure out if the duo knew anyone at the apartment complex.

"This community is tight. Everybody knows everybody over here. They know new faces when they come around," Bores said.

Once officers surrounded the complex, they say a 17-year-old came out, holding a gun.

Officer Leland Ashley said police ordered the teen to drop the gun, but he went back inside instead. Police say the teen went in and out several times, then finally came out, raised his gun and started walking toward officers.

That's when two officers opened fire, one hitting the teen in his chest.

"We have to think about our own safety. We have to also think about those citizens who are at that complex minding their own business at their residence," Ashley said.

Before the Short family evacuated, they had no idea what was going on until they saw bullets flying through their back door and window.

"I hit the floor. I grabbed the kids and they're like, 'What's going on?' and I'm grabbing them and I'm on the floor," Short said.

After police shot the teenager, the other robbery suspect, 20-year-old Juan Alvarez, still wouldn't come out of the apartment until police threw tear gas inside.

Alvarez is in jail on complaints of armed robbery and larceny.

Police say the 17-year-old is in the hospital. He is expected to be okay.