Police: Jacksonville teen shot after stumbling on chop shop in woods

A Jacksonville teen is recovering from a gunshot wound after he and his friends stumbled on a chop shop in the woods Sunday, police said.

The 13-year-old and his friends were walking in the woods off Playpen Drive in Westside Jacksonville at approximately 1 p.m. Sunday.

They stumbled on five men who were stripping a stolen car, according to police.

The teen and his friends told police that the men started shooting at them.

The 13-year-old boy was shot in the leg as they ran from the gunfire.

He was taken to the hospital in serious condition but is expected to be OK, according to police.

Officers found two stolen cars and shell casings in the area.

Action News Jax reporter Kevin Clark spoke with a couple who got a call from police saying their car had been found.

Andrew Gleason said his car was stolen during an armed carjacking Monday morning.

He said he was taking the trash out when someone put a gun to his neck.

"I thought someone was messing with me," Gleason said. "That was not true. I realized they were serious. 'Give me the keys, pops.'"

Gleason's wife Kathryn said she didn't expect police to find the car in Jacksonville.

"I figured it was long gone from here. I figured it was in another state somewhere," she said.

The couple said they are going to take the car to a Nissan dealership to get it checked out.

A Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesperson said officers tried to locate those involved in the shooting. They spoke with several people in the area who said they did not hear anything.

Cox Media Group