news-record.com

The person fatally shot by a Durham police officer on Tuesday is a Greensboro teen.

The incident started about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when undercover officers saw an attempted armed robbery near Holloway Street and Guthrie Avenue in Durham, according to a news release. The officers followed the vehicle -- a 2007 Jeep Commander -- and called for backup.

Patrol officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop. Officers chased the vehicle for about 10 minutes in eastern Durham before getting on Holloway Street, where one of the Jeep's tires blew out. The Jeep turned on to Oakwood Avenue and then began going the wrong way on Liberty Street.

The Jeep stopped on Liberty Street by the Durham County Library and three of the four male occupants jumped out and ran, according to police. One of the teens ran to the front of the Jeep and then turned and pointed a gun toward officers, police stated in a news release.

Durham Police Officer B.D. Opitz fired at the person, striking him in the torso. The teen, Samuel Reyes Uscanga, 16, of 2814 Kilbourne Drive in Greensboro, died at Duke University Hospital.

Officers arrested three people. Jesus Arce, 16, Steaphan Ascencio Vasquez, 16, and Nelson Rafael Hernandez, 19, all of Raleigh, face numerous charges.

Opitz, who joined the Durham Police Department in August 2005, has been placed on administrative duty with pay, which is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting. The case is being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Durham Police Department.