SOUTH GATE (CBSLA.com) — A mother wants to know why South Gate police shot her son twice in the back.

Maria Morfin, 43, told CBS2 and KCAL9 reporter Bobby Kaple that her 17-year-old son, Angel Solorio, is in critical condition in the hospital.
The shooting occurred Saturday evening, about 7:30 p.m. at the Jordan Downs Housing Projects near Grape Street and E. 97th Street.

Following a chase of four males in a car — suspects in a stolen vehicle  — police said all four fled on foot. Police told City News that officers were attempting to locate carjack suspects who stabbed the car owner. (They said the man was taken to a hospital, treated and released.)

Solorio’s mother insist her son was at his girlfriend’s birthday party before he was shot.

A teary Morfin said, “My son was shot in the back. He was handcuffed. He was down on the floor. His sister witnessed the sheriff’s kicking my son. My daughter started screaming at them, ‘It’s my brother. He’s only 17-years-old.”

Police said two of the four suspects escaped.

No gun was recovered but police said one of the suspects had a screwdriver.