Body camera footage released by the Los Angeles Police Department on Thursday shows officers fatally shooting a knife-wielding man who is said to have bipolar disorder, NBC News reported.
Yong Yang, a 40-year-old man with bipolar disorder, was allegedly shot and killed by police during a mental health crisis. according to Go to NBC News. Yang’s parents initially called the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to seek help for their son because he was experiencing symptoms such as hearing voices and seeking solitude. Despite the intention to intervene peacefully, the situation escalated when police accompanied the clinical personnel.
Justice for Yongyang!! ️
He is mentally ill…are you telling me you couldn’t close the door? To wait until his manic episode was over before talking to him? Holy crap!https://t.co/yJmkqERstA
— DANKL!N (@FranklinXie1) May 17, 2024
body camera picture Video released by the Los Angeles Police Department reveals the rapid progression of the incident that led to Yang’s death, NBC News reported. Yan was reportedly shot and killed by Officer Andres Lopez seconds after officers entered his apartment with a knife in his hand. The footage shows officers ordering Yang to drop the knife, before the shooting begins. (Related: Man arrested for murder of Los Angeles model found stuffed in refrigerator)
The newspaper said Yang’s parents are now disputing the claims made by a clinician captured on body camera footage that Yang was violent before the shooting.
“The whole situation was created for him to protect himself. That’s it.” “I have not been invited,” he said.
The Department of Mental Health chose not to discuss specific incidents, instead issuing a statement regarding the situation requiring police assistance from field teams.
“Our on-site intervention teams are trained to defuse mental health crises without police involvement,” the statement said, according to NBC News. “If defusing through clinical means is not possible and the person in crisis poses an immediate threat to themselves or others despite DMH’s efforts, police will be contacted to help maintain safety and keep the peace.”
