Prince William Co. police fatally shoot crowbar-wielding teen after bomb threat

The Villages of Piedmont in Haymarket, Virginia, where a teen boy was shot by a Prince William County police officer Friday morning. (WTOP/Kristi King)
The Villages of Piedmont in Haymarket, Virginia, where a teen boy was shot by a Prince William County police officer Friday morning. (WTOP/Kristi King)
The Villages of Piedmont in Haymarket, Virginia, where a teen boy was shot by a Prince William County police officer Sept. 15. (WTOP/Kristi King)
The Villages of Piedmont in Haymarket, Virginia, where a teen boy was shot by a Prince William County police officer Friday morning. (WTOP/Kristi King)
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The Villages of Piedmont in Haymarket, Virginia, where a teen boy was shot by a Prince William County police officer Friday morning. (WTOP/Kristi King)
The Villages of Piedmont in Haymarket, Virginia, where a teen boy was shot by a Prince William County police officer Sept. 15. (WTOP/Kristi King)

WASHINGTON — A Prince William County police officer responding to a report of a hostage situation in a Haymarket, Virginia, neighborhood shot a 15-year-old boy Friday morning after the teen brandished a crowbar and approached officers in a threatening manner, police said.

The shooting occurred in the 6800 block of Hartzell Hill Lane in Haymarket around 10:45 a.m. Police received a report that someone with a bomb strapped to his chest was holding a family member hostage, said Nathan Probus, a Prince William County police spokesman.

The teen was in front of the Hartzell Hill Lane residence with a crowbar when police arrived and then walked toward officers in a “threatening manner,” Probus said. The officers ordered the teen to drop the crowbar several times before one officer fired multiple shots, striking the teen in the upper body, Probus said.

The officer was not injured. Officers provided immediate first-aid care to the teen, who died at the scene, Probus said.

Police said the shooting remains under investigation. Probus said police did not recover any explosives from the home.

Hartzell Hill Lane has been closed for the police investigation, which has impacted school bus service for Battlefield High School, Reagan Middle and Haymarket Elementary School.

Parents are asked to meet their child’s bus at Market Ridge and Heights Way.

(WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this report)

WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this report. 

Jack Moore

Jack Moore joined WTOP.com as a digital writer/editor in July 2016. Previous to his current role, he covered federal government management and technology as the news editor at Nextgov.com, part of Government Executive Media Group.

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