Was it necessary to shoot a homeless man in front of children?
A veteran Miami police officer shot and killed a homeless man in a local park when the man threatened the officer with a pipe, police say.
The shooting took place at Overtown Park in Miami where area kids were congregated for a summer camp. Dozens of people witnessed the shooting that left children rushing into nearby buildings as shots were fired, according to the Miami Herald.
Witnesses were
upset the officer fired:
According to witnesses, a police officer shot a homeless man who was holding a metal pole five times. They said the homeless man regularly hangs out at the park and wasn't a threat to police.
"He was a homeless man, wasn't bothering nobody," witness Nichelle Green said. "The man walks around, we see him every morning with his stick, the same little stick that he had in his hand when the police officer shot him five times."
"Was there an altercation?" Local 10 News reporter Glenna Milberg asked.
"Man didn't have a chance to say nothing to police," Green said.
Police claim the officer's life was threatened enough to use
lethal force:
According to Miami Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes, "an officer would only fire his weapon if he felt threatened, and added that he’s well aware of the 'anxiety that’s been created across the country.'"
But, witnesses are saying it was not necessary to fire a gun:
“The man had a stick in his hand. They could have Tasered him. He was a homeless guy who’s there every morning,” Nichelle Miller said to The Herald. "The man didn’t swing the pipe at the officer, but pointed it at him," Miller said.
Needless to say, an investigation has been opened. See an interview with witnesses
here.
