Boy, as yet unidentified, is third child killed by San Bernardino law enforcement in less than two years and second in under a month

Southern California sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a 17-year-old boy with mental health issues after he armed himself with a knife and locked himself inside a bathroom at a home, authorities said on Wednesday.

The teen was being transferred from a hospital, where he had been treated after cutting himself, to a mental health facility when he escaped on Tuesday, the San Bernardino county sheriff, Shannon Dicus, said.

The boy, a foster youth who lived in Hesperia, later showed up at a home in Victorville, about 90 miles (145km) east of Los Angeles, where his sisters live in foster care, Dicus said. Someone at the home called deputies to come arrest him, Dicus added, because he had caused trouble there before.

The teen, who had a knife, locked himself in a bathroom, and deputies tried to get him to come out for about a half-hour, according to the sheriff. But when the boy threatened to harm himself, deputies kicked down the door and tried to apprehend him, Dicus said.

  • Son_of_dad@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    I’m not gonna speculate, but this sort of situation could literally be ended by a guy in one of those dog bite suits they train police dogs on.

    Why haven’t police come up with any sort of solution to a suspect with a knife? Hell even those sticks they use in Asia against knife attacks are pretty effective

    • pyromaster55@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Because cops in America all fancy themselves the Punisher (don’t even get me started on that) where everyone is out to get them and every one they shoot is one less bad guy on the street.

      No incentive to change when they can get away with killing with impunity and fulfill their murder fantasies.

      Asshole who shot this kid probably bragged to all his buddies about smoking a dude with a knife and got attaboys all around.

      • mycathas9lives@mastodon.social
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        8 months ago

        @pyromaster55 @Son_of_dad

        I refuse to even be near the police. Never let them catch or detain you. Never let them that close. It has been a lifetime game of keep away for me. Always leave. Never stick around. Don’t talk to them. It’s best that way.

    • Ragnarok314159
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      8 months ago

      They have multiple solutions to someone in this situation. A Tazer, pepper spray, brute physical force. Or just talk to the kid for a while, hear him out, and he will probably comply.

      But nah, mag dump into the kid because you were scared is easiest.