SWAT called at teen shoplifters barricaded themselves inside TX store
Corpus Christi TX Aug 8 2019
As Corpus Christi Police Department SWAT officers surrounded a building, four teenage boys were inside uploading videos to social media with the caption “free us.”
Video on social media shows the footage that appears to come from one of the suspects’ Instagram accounts.
The four boys barricaded themselves inside an automotive shop in the 2800 block of Ayers Street after an alleged theft Tuesday about 10:30 a.m., said Lt. Michael Pena, a spokesperson for the department.
SWAT officers arrived about 11:50 a.m. The officers spoke to the three boys inside the building for a few minutes before they came out through a garage door with their hands in the air about 1 p.m.
The teens recorded video of themselves inside as officers persuaded the them to come out of the building. The teens are believed to be between the ages of 14 and 16, police said.
Police vehicles can be seen outside one of the windows inside the building in the footage. Officers also can be heard telling the teens to come out with their hands up.
The video includes the caption “Free us!!!”
Three boys can be seen in the video. One boy in the video looks at the camera and shows off money in his hands.
At the end of the video, one of the teens says “free us. Gang.”
The teens came out of the building through a garage door about 1 p.m.
They were instructed to lie on the ground before they were taken into custody. Police said the boys may have been armed at the time of the theft attempt, before they ran into the building. It is unknown if a weapon was found.
Police are not releasing the teens’ names because they are minors.
Del Mar College issued an alert on social media to warn of an “ongoing police action” in the area. Students and staff were advised to move their vehicles from the parking lot closest to Ayers.
The campus was open as of 12:40 p.m., but people were advised to avoid Ayers, according to a tweet from Del Mar College. The college issued a statement on social media at 1:30 p.m., saying the campus was safe.
