Nov. 30—Three teenagers suspected in drive-by shootings in Lawrence County were arrested Thursday evening after they allegedly stole a car in Decatur and led authorities on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash with another vehicle.

“They’re going over 100 miles per hour,” a pursuing unit radioed as the reported stolen 2011 Cadillac SRX crossover was heading east on Alabama 24 just before 11 p.m., according to radio traffic that captured part of the chase.

Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office deputies spotted the Cadillac on Alabama 24 near Lawrence County Road 319 around 10:35 p.m., shortly after Decatur police kept a lookout for the vehicle believed to be headed toward Moulton, according to Chief Deputy Brian Covington. did.

The Cadillac residents, who ranged in age from 13 to 17, were involved in a shooting that crashed into another vehicle in the 24000 block of Lawrence County Road 460 on Nov. 17 around 9 p.m., Covington said.

Covington said the youths also opened fire on a house in the same area two days later around 8:30 p.m. The teens then opened fire on a witness who followed their vehicle into Trinity before the witness left a tail, Covington said.

Decatur police said they responded to a reported vehicle theft at a business in the 600 block of Fifth Avenue around 10:05 p.m. Thursday.

Stephen Hampton, the owner of the Cadillac, said he and his cousin went to the Fifth Avenue Food Mart and left his car running.

“I went in for a snack,” he said. “We came out and he was gone.”

Hampton said he brought his keychain with him when he entered the store. The vehicle is equipped with a keyless access system, and according to the manufacturer, the push-to-start engine will turn on when the vehicle detects the presence of the key fob. If the engine is already on, whether the fob is present or not, the vehicle can be started until the engine is turned off.

Hampton said he saw two teenagers while parking and assumed they were leaving the store. After realizing his vehicle was gone, he returned to the store to view the security video and then reported the apparent theft to Decatur police.

Around 10:45 p.m., a Decatur police officer said: “According to one of my friends in Lawrence County – he just sent me a text – 10-40 (code for stolen vehicle) heading eastbound on 24 in East Lawrence, I’m coming back.” “

At least two Decatur units also responded to the chase and discussed the deployment of spike strips, according to scanner traffic.

A crew reported driving 120 mph on Gordon Terry Parkway, according to scanner traffic.

“It’ll take me a second to catch it,” he said.

Hampton’s girlfriend, Travia Garth, said she was at her home in the 200 block of Sixth Avenue Northwest (a narrow, residential street) when the Cadillac passed her home with four to six police cruisers in pursuit. Scanner traffic confirmed the chase route.

“We’ll be heading north on West Moulton to Sixth Avenue,” a police officer radioed. “No traffic. Lawrence County still priority. Stop sign blown on Second Avenue, speed about 60 degrees northbound.”

The chase eventually turned eastbound onto West Moulton, according to scanner traffic.

“We’re heading east, shining light on West Moulton and 12th,” one unit radioed. “There is little to no traffic; we continue east from West Moulton.

“We’re crossing the tracks. Speed ​​is about 65. No traffic. Lawrence County still ahead.”

A short time later, as the chase approached Northeast Sixth Street, an officer shouted “10-50, 10-50 rollover!” to dispatch. The code means “accident”.

According to browser traffic, the Cadillac crashed into the Dodge Journey. In the image of the crash scene shared on social media, one of two white crossovers can be seen sitting on its roof on the street.

The stolen vehicle crashed into another vehicle at Sixth Avenue and East Moulton Avenue, a Decatur police spokesman said. He said three people in the vehicle he crashed were transported to Decatur Morgan Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said the teens in the stolen vehicle fled the scene on foot before being quickly caught. Investigators determined that two of the teens stole the Cadillac and charged them with first-degree theft of property.

According to police, the third teenage driver and driver of the Cadillac during the pursuit were charged with first-degree receiving stolen property and attempting to elude.

“The Morgan County Juvenile Probation Office was contacted regarding the arrests and the juveniles were released to their parents/guardians,” Decatur police said. he said.

Covington said the teens were “taken into custody for their involvement in drive-by shootings, stolen vehicles, and leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in physical injuries.”

Hampton, who inspected the damage to his vehicle late Friday morning, said Cadillac had “T-boned” the Dodge. He said he bought the vehicle two months ago.

“It’s gathered,” he said. “Ripped, man.”

— [email protected] or 256-340-2438.