Mum calls police to help her autistic son, they shoot him
A mum has hit out at police officers after she claims they shot her autistic son following her call for help.
Golda Barton, from Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah, said she called 911 and asked for a crisis intervention team to visit her house on Friday night (local time) because her son, Linden Cameron, 13, was suffering a mental breakdown.
She told local publication KUTV she had returned to work for the first time in a year and Linden does not handle being separated well.
“This is how to deal with people with mental health issues. So, you call them, and they’re supposed to come out and be able to de-escalate a situation using tee most minimal force possible,” she said.
Ms Barton said she told police how to best approach the teen.
“I said he’s unarmed, he doesn’t have anything, he just gets mad and he starts yelling and screaming. He’s a kid, he’s trying to get attention, he does’t know hot to regulate,” she said.
A few minutes after two officers who had arrived went through the front door of the home, Ms Barton said she heard an order to “get on the ground” and several gunshots.
The mum said her son is now in hospital in a serious condition with injuries to both of his ankles, his shoulder, intestines and bladder.
Sergeant Keith Horrocks with the Salt Lake City Police Department explained to KUTV officers were told there was a “violent psych issue” involving a teen “making threats to some folks with a weapon”.
The boy reportedly ran and was shot by an officer after being pursued by police.
Salt Lake Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in a statement late Sunday that the shooting was a tragedy and called for a swift and transparent investigation.
More details are expected to be released within 10 business days when police body camera footage is released, as required under a city ordinance.
with AP
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