VALDOSTA — Valdosta police charged two teen-agers Thursday in connection with the shooting of another teen.

Police responded to the 900 block of Lakeside Drive about 1:40 p.m. Thursday after several people reported hearing gunshots.

Witnesses provided E911 dispatchers with detailed descriptions of two males they observed running in the area with handguns, police said in a press release Friday evening.

As officers arrived, they observed two males who matched the description attempting to enter a residence in the 800 block of Pineview Drive. Officers stopped them, and both were found to have firearms concealed in their clothing. One of the suspects was 17 years old and the other was 15. 

While officers were investigating the incident, South Georgia Medical Center called E911 to report that a 15-year-old male had shown up at the hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand. Detectives spoke with the victim at the hospital, and he was treated for his injury and released.

Through investigation, detectives determined that the incidents were related, police said.  Both suspects were charged with aggravated assault (felony), possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony), and possession of a handgun by a minor (misdemeanor).  The 15-year-old suspect was also charged with unruly juvenile (misdemeanor).

The 17-year-old was transported to Lowndes County Jail. The Department of Juvenile Justice authorized the juvenile to be detained at a Regional Youth Detention Center.

The case is still under investigation and further charges are pending.

“This was a great quick response from our officers getting to the area immediately,” said Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan. “Thanks to the detailed description provided by the witnesses, these two offenders were quickly and safely apprehended. The fact that teenagers were shooting guns in a neighborhood at 1:30 in the afternoon is alarming.”

 If anyone has any further information on this case or any other cases, please contact the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department.