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Bodycam footage shows moment US police shoot autistic boy, 13, suffering from 'mental episode'

Salt Lake City Police Department
Salt Lake City Police Department

Bodycam footage has emerged of police shooting a 13-year-old autistic boy several times in Utah after his mother called for help during a "mental episode".

The boy's mother, Golda Barton, said she was the one who called police and asked for a crisis intervention team to attend their house in Glendale, Salt Lake City, on September 4.

She said her son was having a mental breakdown.

"So, you call them, and they're supposed to come out and be able to deescalate a situation using the most minimal force possible," she told KUTV.

"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."

But, after being told to stay away while two officers entered the home, Ms Barton heard "get down on the ground" and several gunshots fired.

Ms Barton said she thought her son was dead and officers did not immediately tell her what condition he was in.

Police said an independent investigation has been launched into the incident.

A number of clips of bodycam footage from the incident have now been published to the police department's YouTube channel.

Ms Barton is seen speaking to officers when they arrive, before the teenager can be seen running from police at the back of the house and not complying when an officer orders him to the ground.

Moments before one of the officers opens fire, another can be heard saying: "Pull your hands out."

After he was shot, police ordered him to show his hands.

As officers approach him, the teenager is heard saying: "I don't feel good. Tell my mum I love her."

It is not clear whether the boy was armed.

Ms Barton said her son was taken to hospital in Salt Lake City with injuries to his shoulder, ankles, intestines and bladder.

According to the 911 call, published on Monday, Ms Barton called for help after her son had threatened to shoot one of her colleagues and break the windows in their home.

Ms Barton can be heard telling the dispatcher that her father was killed by sheriff's deputies earlier this year and that her son "does not like cops at all".

After he was shot, Ms Barton claims officers handcuffed him.

According to Ms Barton, an officer was heard saying: "He's just a child, what are you doing?"

Visibly distressed during the interview with KUTV, Ms Barton said: "He's a small child. Why didn't you just tackle him? He's a baby. He has mental issues."

At the time, Sgt Keith Horrocks, from Salt Lake City Police Department, said officers were called to the area to a report of a "violent psych issue" involving a child "having a mental episode" and "making threats to some folks with a weapon".

Earlier this month, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in a statement to KUTV: "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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