Teenager shot, killed by police laid to rest Monday

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The teenager shot and killed by two Coral Gables police officers last week in a joint stolen vehicle sting with Miami-Dade police was laid to rest Monday.

One of 17-year-old Jason Carulla's sisters works at the Vista Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home where he was buried, and said she counted the bullet holes in her brother's body.  She said there were three in his back and two in his head.

"What does that tell you?" Local 10's Christina Vazquez asked Alyssa Carulla.

"They were looking to kill," said Alyssa.

Authorities said they were tipped off about Carulla picking up a stolen car at a northwest Miami-Dade flea market last Thursday. When they arrived, police said Carulla used the stolen Toyota Sequoia as a weapon to ram the unmarked police car behind him.  Two Coral Gables officers fired multiple shots at Carulla. Authorities said they did this to protect themselves, the public and a Miami-Dade sergeant.

Carulla's loved ones question whether excessive force was used.

"He was a beautiful kid," said David Keffe, a friend of Carulla's. "He might have had his troubling times, but he did not deserve this at all."

Meanwhile, Carulla's father, Janik Carulla doesn't shy away from talking about the problems that plagued his late son. He even offered advice to other parents struggling with a much loved, but troubled child.

"Don't be afraid to be the bad guy," said Janik. "Don't be afraid for them to hate you. Do it. Maybe if I was a little stronger toward the end and I didn't give in, maybe things would have been different, maybe. So stick to your guns, and if your kids are watching this - this could happen to anyone of you."

A police investigation is underway into the use of deadly force. Carulla's official autopsy report is pending the outcome of that investigation