Police in South Florida shot an unarmed caretaker who had his hands in the air as he explained he was a medical professional caring for an autistic man outside a group home, newly released cellphone video shows.
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The therapist, Charles Kinsey, was trying to help his autistic patient who had run away from a group home.
Charles Kinsey, an unarmed black man, had his hands in the air when he was shot three times by Miami police.
Video before and after the shooting has been released, but footage of the actual shooting has not been released, said Kinsey’s attorney, Hilton Napoleon II.
Cellphone video that captured part of the incident shows Kinsey – who is black – with his hands up, lying down next to his patient.
The Florida police officer who shot an unarmed behavioral therapist was aiming for the autistic patient the therapist was trying to protect, police union officials said, according to the New York Daily News. “It was so surprising. He got a toy truck in his hand, ‘” Kinsey said, restating what could be heard on the video.
The unidentified officer who fired his gun has been placed on administrative leaveand the investigation has been handed to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
Circle of Brotherhood, a group of men who work together to perform acts of community service and crime prevention, are demanding answers after Kinsey, who is one their members, was shot.
The motto “if you see something, say something”, is still being stressed, but experts say it’s also important for people to sure of what they’re seeing before calling police.
Police chief Gary Eugene told reporters that officers responded to the scene with the threat of a gun in mind, but no gun was recovered.
“Lay down on your stomach”, Kinsey says to his patient in the video, which was shot from a distance and provided to the Herald on Wednesday. He got a toy truck in his hand”, he told WSVN-TV.
“Right now, I am just grateful that he is alive”, she said, “and he is able to tell his story”. “Wow, was I wrong”.
“His words were, ‘I don’t know, ‘ Kinsey said”.
In addition to trying to calm the police down, Kinsey advised the autistic young man: “Rinaldo, please be still, Rinaldo”.
“I assure you we will get all the answers“.
North Miami police said the incident began when someone reported to 911 “a man walking around with a gun threatening suicide”, according to local television station WSVN.
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ATTN: asked a retired Lt. Commander Diane Goldstein, a 20-year-veteran of the Redondo Beach Police Department, what Kinsey could have done to avoid being shot.
