VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Elijah Santiago, an 18-year-old who shot at Virginia Beach police officers in August, plead guilty to several charges on Monday.
Santiago plead guilty to four counts of assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, soliciting another to commit a felony, a concealed weapon charge and a charge of discharging a firearm. He is set to be sentenced Feb. 25.
The Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) said officers responded to a call for a shooting at Trace Court around 3:42 a.m. on August 13, in the area of Bonney Road. When officers arrived they heard shots coming from the dead end of the street.
Police said that while the officers searched the area, two people inside a parked car said they saw someone fire shots and who had then fled into a nearby apartment.
VBPD said officers established a perimeter around the apartment and used a megaphone, ordering the person inside to exit the building.
About 20 minutes later, police said a man, later identified as 18-year-old Elijah Santiago of Virginia Beach, exited the rear of the home and allegedly pointed a handgun with an extended magazine at police. Two officers fired shots at Santiago, who then ran back inside.
According to VBPD, Santiago eventually exited the apartment and surrendered peacefully. He was not struck by the officers' gunfire and was overall unhurt.
As per policy, the two officers who shot at Santiago were placed on administrative leave.
