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Teen charged after wounded by police during robbery at adult video store


A teenager shot and wounded by police as he was reportedly robbing an adult video store  at gunpoint in southeast Houston along Interstate 45 Wednesday has been charged in the heist.

Darrin Charlot , 17,  is charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon after the shooting at the store at 10550 Gulf Freeway about 2:20 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Houston Police Department.

Police said Charlot was wounded by officers when they saw him inside the store wielding a shotgun. He was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital. He is in stable condition and police said he is expected to survive.

The officers, identified as M. A. De La Cerda and D. A. Morelli, were not injured.

Police said De La Cerda and Moreilli were on routine patrol in their squad car when they spotted Charlot enter the store in a suspicious manner. They pulled into the parking lot. As they opened the store’s glass door they saw him behind the counter with the shotgun. Both officers, fearing for their safety,  opened fire, hitting Charlot. He was taken into custody.

Police said during the robbery Charlot demanded to be given money from the store’s safe, which an employee could not open. The worker then opened the cash register and allowed Charlot to take the money inside it. Charlot hit the worker in the back of the head with the shotgun. 

As is customary in HPD officer-involved shootings occurring in the city limits, the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions as well as the Harris County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the case.

Dale Lezon