Gun owner gets into shootout with occupants of his stolen car after he uses app to track it; 12-year-old male behind wheel fatally shot

A gun owner got into a shootout with the occupants of his stolen car Sunday evening in Denver after he used an app to track it — and a 12-year-old male who was behind the wheel of the stolen vehicle was fatally shot.

What are the details?

Denver police said they received a report of an auto theft from the 8300 block of East Northfield Boulevard.

The vehicle owner — an adult male — said he was tracking his vehicle using an app, police said, adding that he eventually found his car.

But when the vehicle owner approached his stolen car, police said he was "involved in an exchange of gunfire" with those inside the vehicle.

Police said a juvenile male drove the stolen car to the 2900 block of West 10th Avenue, where officers found him suffering from a gunshot wound, after which he was taken to a hospital where he later was pronounced dead.

The juvenile was identified as 12-year-old Elias Armstrong, KMGH-TV reported, citing the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner.

The station said Armstrong was shot around 7 p.m. in the 1100 block of Decatur Street.

Police said it's believed that the other occupants of the stolen vehicle ran off before officers arrived.

Police added that the "adult male auto theft victim who shot the juvenile male" has not been arrested, although the case is under investigation.

How are folks reacting?

Commenters under the tweet posted by Denver police on the car theft and shooting praised the man who got into the gunfight after finding his stolen car — and didn't seem to have much sympathy for the fatally shot driver:

• "What a total badass," one commenter said. "Chuck Norris ain't got nothing on this man. Well done sir."
• "Glad to know that this punk was served such swift justice! We don’t have to worry about him anymore. One down!" another commenter declared.
• "Too bad he did not hit more of the car thief gangstas during the gun battle and effort to retrieve his stolen car," another commenter opined.

Others disagreed, as one user said, "Shooting someone over a stolen car is almost always not the right answer. These were kids who made a mistake, and you’re an idiot if you think they should die for it."

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