Police officers in Salt Lake, Utah earned backlash after several cops shot a 13-year-old autistic boy. The incident occurred in Glendale after the cops were called to a family home due to reports of a ‘juvenile having a mental episode.’
On Friday, around 10 p.m., Golda Barton summoned police officers in their home after her son Linden Cameron suffered from a mental breakdown.
Teen victim was diagnosed with Asperger’s
Photo: Golda Barton
Cameron was diagnosed with Asperger’s. Barton was expecting that the police would help alleviate the situation, but their presence only made things worse for the boy.
In an interview with local news outlet, Barton uncovered the events leading up to the shooting. Upon the police officers’ arrival in their home, she informed them that her son was unarmed. He also needed to be taken to a hospital.
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“You call them, and they’re supposed to come out and be able to de-escalate a situation using the most minimal force possible. 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 doesn’t know how to regulate,” says Barton cited in The Washington Post.
Some officers escorted the mother out of the house while they were trying to deal with the situation. Five minutes later, after hearing the officers ordering her son to the ground, Barton heard the sound of gunshots.
Her son was later taken out of the house, but during that time, police couldn’t tell Barton whether her son was still alive, according to KUTV.
Cops claimed the boy was armed
Photo: Golda Barton
Later on, the cops defended this attack by claiming that the autistic boy was suffering from a psychotic episode and could be a threat to others. They also insisted that Cameron was ‘threatening some folks with a weapon.’
The case is currently being investigated, and the cops’ body cams hold the key to shed light on what truly transpired during that night. In a statement, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Menhendall claimed that they will be investigating this incident.
“While the full details of this incident are yet to be released as an investigation takes place, I will say that I am thankful this young boy is alive and no one else was injured.
“No matter the circumstances, what happened on Friday night is a tragedy and I expect this investigation to be handled swiftly and transparently for the sake of everyone involved.”
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