Alabama authorities say a police officer used a stun gun on a 13-year-old boy who reached into a pocket containing a handgun.

News outlets report charges are pending against the 13-year-old, who was walking with a 15-year-old boy near a middle school when he was stopped Wednesday.

Birmingham Police Sgt. Johnny Williams says officers responding to a report of an armed person spotted the 13-year-old matching the provided description.

Williams says officers asked the youth to put his hands in the air.

He says an officer then fired the stun gun when the teen reached in his pocket instead.

Police say a .38 caliber handgun was found in the boy’s pocket.

News outlets say the boy was taken to a hospital to be checked out.

An internal investigation into the stun gun’s use is ongoing.
(Associated Press, copyright 2018)

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