Teen killed by police ‘wanted to end his own life’
Source: News Corp Australia Network:
October 7, 2016 at 09:51
A SIXTEEN year-old boy in the US who reportedly wanted to die left a farewell note for his family before he executed a disturbing and successful plan to get police to kill him.
On Sunday, Daniel Enrique Perez used his mobile phone to call 911. He reported “a man with a gun matching his own description” in South Los Angeles, according to police.
Officers arrived on the scene about 20 minutes later and found a man who matched the description.
As they approached, Perez turned and pointed a “realistic” gun at them, and was shot, police said.
He was rushed to a local hospital but died of multiple gun shot wounds, the county coroner’s office said.
Perez’ gun turned out to be a replica with an orange tip that had been painted black.
Police Chief Charlie Beck said Perez pointed the fake gun at police because he wanted to be killed. He said the teen left a farewell note to his family and had a “prior history” reported by relatives.
Beck declined to disclose details of Perez’s history, saying it would hurt the boy’s family.
“I cannot even imagine how they are suffering right now,” he said.
The officer who shot the boy is devastated, Beck said.
Based on the 911 call, the note and the boy’s history, “we believe that this officer-involved shooting was a result of his desire to end his own life,” Beck said.
This frame from security camera video shows a suspect holding what appears to be a gun in the moments before he was fatally shot by police. Police said the video supports the account Chief Charlie Beck gave Monday justifying the fatal shooting of Carnell Snell. Picture: Los Angeles Police Department via APSource:AP
The incident was one of two deadly LAPD shootings last weekend.
On Saturday, police shot and killed Carnell Snell Jr., 18, in South Los Angeles. Police said he fled when they stopped a suspected stolen car and had a gun.
The killing prompted angry protests which led Beck to release a video which showed Snell holding the gun.
If you or someone you know is in need of crisis or suicide prevention support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp
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