This post contains content related to fatal police shootings and talks of suicide.
A Florida officer’s body camera captured him pleading with a man to not “make me do that” before fatally shooting him, and people think it demonstrates one of the reasons why officers should be advocates of bodycams.
In the footage, which came from a Hillsborough County deputy’s bodycam, Dylan Scott is sitting inside a car in Riverview, Florida, Tuesday night, according to WFLA News Channel8.
The video starts midway into a conversation between an officer and Scott. The officer asks Scott where his gun is, and Scott tells him it’s in his waistband.
The officer is on the passenger side of the car, while Scott is in the driver’s seat.
“Don’t reach for it,” the officer says three times, asking Scott to put his hands up.
“Hey listen to me, listen to my voice. I don’t want to do this, and it’s not worth it,” the officer says. “The warrant [inaudible] you have right now, you’ll get a bond. But if you make a bad decision right now, it could cost your life. You understand what I’m saying?”
“I’m begging you to not make that choice,” the officer continues.
Scott keeps looking to his side, before looking back at the officer.
“Whatever you got in your hand—drop it, OK? Drop it,” the officer says again.
The officer then tells another person that Scott said he has a gun.
The officer then shoots a round of bullets into the car. According to WFLA, Scott was pronounced dead after being taken to Tampa General Hospital.
According to another WFLA report, Scott was being pursued by cops for charges of grand theft and resisting arrest. When he was initially located with a woman in his car, he was ordered to get out of the truck. He rushed down an embankment and crashed into a minivan; the driver of the minivan was hospitalized after complaining about chest pain.
The report further states there was no firearm found in the car. In July, Scott had reportedly threatened to die by suicide by cop.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said the deputies “did all they could” to have a peaceful intervention in the situation and that he hopes the video shows their effort. Three deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.
The video was published by WFLA and later uploaded to Reddit and Twitter, where it went viral. People think the incident shows why officers should be pro-bodycam. “This video is tragic but this is exactly why every cop in America should be begging to wear a body camera. This young man didn’t have a firearm on him and the public would’ve never believed the cop’s version of events if he didn’t have his camera on,” popular Twitter user @davenewworld_2 wrote.
For more information about suicide prevention or to speak with someone confidentially, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (U.S.) or Samaritans (U.K.).
If you are a teen dealing with depression or other mental health issues, see PBS.org for a list of resources and organizations that can help you. If you are an adult, see Mental Health Resources.
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