ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Two 14-year-olds and a 12-year-old are in custody after police said they stole guns and got into a shootout with someone who caught them in the act.

In an interview on March 24, two 14-year-olds admitted to officers that they entered into multiple vehicles on 5th and 6th Avenue, according to a press release.

After 5th and 6th Avenue, APD said the teens went to the 700 block of 9th Avenue and stole a gun from inside a vehicle there. The owner of the vehicle and the gun came outside, and the teens ran away.

The owner then got into his vehicle to follow them. The teens then started shooting at the vehicle, and the owner shot back at them.

Police said approximately three firearms were stolen from the break-ins. The two 14-year-olds and a 12-year-old were arrested by the APD in connection to this case.

Albany Police Chief Michael Persley has a strong message for the community.

“When you have children this age out at that time of night, we have major challenges,” he said. “We don’t want this to have turned out to where the victim could’ve been shot, and we definitely don’t want any children shot or injured. But the realization is, for one, you have to stop breaking into peoples' cars and houses. People are going to protect themselves.”

The three minors were taken into custody and brought to the Terrell County Regional Youth Detention Center. They were charged with entering an automobile, aggravated assault and possession of a handgun by a person under the age of 18.

APD is asking that if your vehicle was broken into during this timeframe and you didn’t report it to give them a call.

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