4 teens accused of leading police on chase in stolen SUV following shooting

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four teenagers have been charged after police said they shot into several cars and then led officers on a chase in a stolen SUV.

Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, police received dozens of 911 calls from residents in the Woodbridge neighborhood near Yateswood Drive who reported hearing several gunshots.

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When officers got there, they found three vehicles that had been shot into and nearly 20 shell casings scattered on the ground.

Neighbors described a white Toyota Rav4 speeding away from the scene, and a short time later, police spotted the SUV with four people inside it and tried to pull it over.

The driver refused to stop, according to CMPD, and instead led police on a 7-mile chase that ended when the Toyota collided with a GMC Yukon near the intersection of Providence Road and Fairview Road.

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Three of the four people that tried to run away were taken into custody immediately. Officers set up a perimeter in the area and eventually caught the fourth suspect as well.

Detectives found that the Toyota was one of several vehicles stolen from a dealership on Sept. 29. Police also found three guns in the SUV.

Those arrested were identified and charged with the following:

• Michael Anthony Thomas, 18, the driver of the Toyota, was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, flee to elude a law enforcement officer, discharging a firearm within city limits, resist/delay/obstruct a public officer and three counts of damage to property. Thomas has a prior charge in Mecklenburg County for shooting into occupied property.
• David Wayne Burns, 19, was charged with possession of stolen property, discharging a firearm within city limits, resist/delay/obstruct a public officer and three counts of damage to property. Burns has prior charges in Mecklenburg County for murder, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon.
• Tyliek Alex Stevenson, 18, was charged with discharging a firearm within city limits, resist/delay/obstruct a public officer and three counts of damage to property. Stevenson has a prior charge in Mecklenburg County for shooting into occupied property.
• Isaiah Richardson, 19, was charged with discharging a firearm within city limits, resist/delay/obstruct a public officer and three counts of damage to property. Richardson has prior charges in Mecklenburg County for theft of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor.

(Thomas, Burns, Stevenson and Richardson)

Nobody was hit by bullets in the Woodbridge neighborhood and nobody was injured in the crash, according to police.

Detectives are continuing to investigate this case, and additional charges are possible.

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Cox Media Group