ROY -- A 17-year-old with a history of run-ins with law enforcement has been charged as an adult in a shooting that occurred Saturday in front of witnesses, police say.
Around 10 p.m., several people called 911 and reported gunshots coming from a church parking lot near 5500 S. 2300 West.
Police say Derek Frank Navarro arranged to meet a man there who was to sell him drugs, but during their encounter, Navarro pulled a .22-caliber handgun and demanded money from the dealer.
"He decided he didn't want to pay for the drugs and he wanted the dealer's money as well," said Police Sgt. Shawn O'Malley. "When the dealer failed to produce any cash, (Navarro) took some shots at him."
O'Malley said officers arrived and attempted to arrest Navarro, but he fled in a vehicle. The dealer involved in the shooting was not found and authorities have been unable to locate him.
Police followed Navarro's vehicle to a parking lot in Riverdale near 5500 South.
"When officers finally made the traffic stop, he fled from the vehicle in an attempt to hide the weapon," O'Malley said.
Police say Navarro threw the gun onto the roof of a nearby business.
Navarro is charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony.
He is also facing additional charges of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, failure to stop at the command of an officer and obstruction of justice.
O'Malley said Navarro is being cooperative in the investigation and that police want to find the dealer involved in the incident.
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