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“Why didn’t they grab it?” Police shoot autistic 13-year-olds
Utah police shot a 13-year-old autistic man (symbol image). Bild: AP
Police in the US city of Salt Lake City are facing harsh criticism after they seriously wounded a mentally unstable 13-year-old boy with multiple shots. The boy’s mother had asked the agents for help, as she told local broadcaster KUTV.
The boy with Asperger’s syndrome became anxious because he was left home alone while she returned to work for the first time in about a year. She told police via an emergency call that her autistic son was unarmed and was only screaming because he wanted attention and couldn’t control his emotions.
A Salt Lake City, Utah, police spokesman cited reports of a young man who had threatened people with a gun. When the boy did not follow the instructions of an officer and ran away, the policeman fired. No weapon was found on the young man.
Criticism of the police operation
The incident occurred on Friday of last week, but was only made known to a wider audience through media reports on Tuesday. “He is a little boy. Why didn’t they grab it? “The mother told the television channel through tears. The police can be expected to decline in such a situation and use the least amount of violence possible.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall called for a swift and transparent investigation. The Utah Neurodiverse Association, which advocates for the acceptance of autism, criticized police for being called in to help and instead causing more harm. The bottom line is probably that you should never call the police if you have a mental breakdown.
In the national debate on police violence, a case from the city of Rochester is also causing discussion. There, a man who was walking naked down the street under the influence of drugs died as a result of a brutal police operation. (sda / dpa)
