The family of a mentally ill Florida man who was shot and killed by police in February has released video footage showing his fatal encounter with police.
According to the Miami Herald, Lavall Hall's family shared the video to show that police in Miami Gardens didn't need fire five shots, killing the 25-year-old on Feb. 15. Early that morning, Hall, who suffered from schizophrenia, ran outside close to naked with a broomstick.
The tense and fatal encounter between Lavall Hall, a 25-year-old mentally ill man, and officer Eddo Trimino in February was partially captured on a patrol car dashcam video released Wednesday for the first time by Hall’s family. The 19-minute video is clear enough to see muzzle flashes and flying shell casings, but it also leaves enough unseen to only add to the controversy surrounding the shooting.
Hall’s grieving family believes the video — particularly a clip their attorneys had produced in slow-motion — shows that Trimino used excessive force and had no need to fire his weapon.
However, police claim Officer Trimino only discharged his weapon because Hall refused to obey his orders, and because he feared for his own life:
Yet police union representatives and Trimino’s attorney see the video through a different lens — arguing it vindicates the officer, who they say feared for his life as he retreated from Hall after issuing precise and stern commands that were disobeyed.
Furthermore, Trimino's attorney, Andrew Axelrad, claims the video actually proves his client's innocence. "He’s not shooting at eye level, that’s in the movies," he told the Herald. "The video justifies the officer’s actions. You can see his fear."
[via Miami Herald]
