Teen shot after aiming 'handgun' at Phoenix officer: www.abc15.com 13/02/10

PHOENIX -- Authorities say a Phoenix police officer shot a teen after the suspect simulated pulling out a weapon and pointing it at the officer during a drug bust Friday night. According to Phoenix police Sgt. Tommy Thompson, the 15-year-old male's injuries were not life-threatening.

Thompson said just before 8 p.m. six officers in an unmarked van pulled up to three teens near 13th Avenue and Buckeye Road while looking for suspects who had not been taken into custody during a roundup a week earlier. They were also looking for drug activity in the area.
Sgt. Tommy Thompson talks about the officer-involved shooting
Four of the officers were in plain clothes, while two were in uniform, Thompson said.
The officers reportedly contacted the teens, two males and a female, who directed them to a spot on Cocopah Street where they could buy drugs.
Thompson said the teens could only see the driver and passenger of the van and did not know they were officers.
One of the suspects allegedly gave crack cocaine to the officer in the front seat, Thompson said.
When the officer said they were police, according to Thompson the suspect pulled his hand out from his waistband or pocket and aimed it at the officer saying, "I'm gonna kill you."
Thompson said that in the poor lighting, the officer was "convinced" he was going to be shot.
The officer fired his weapon and the teen was struck.
Thompson said the 15-year-old fell to the ground and was taken into custody.
Azucena Corrales, 18, was also taken into custody while the other male, a 17-year-old, fled on foot. Corrales is the injured teen's sister, according to Thompson.
After a four hour search, the second male suspect was taken into custody near 13th Avenue and Cocopah Street, Thompson said.
The injured teen was transported to a Phoenix hospital with a gunshot wound.

Charges are pending for the 15-year-old, but the 17-year-old was booked on a charge of conspiracy to sell narcotic drugs.
Corrales was booked on charges of possession for sale of narcotic drugs and using or hiring a minor in a drug offense.
Thompson said 36-year-old Officer Clark Impastato has been with the department 1 1/2 years. Per police policy, he will be placed on administrative leave for several days, Thompson said.
At this time, no real weapon has been found, Thompson said, but investigators are not totally convinced that a real weapon didn’t exist due to the length of time it took to locate and arrest Chavez and because, during the search, several toy guns were found.