For the second time in about a week, police in Hartford shot a person suffering from apparent mental illness.
Friday’s victim, a man, was in critical condition when police last provided an update Friday afternoon.
Harford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert says at about 11 am, officers were called to the area of 687 Blue Hills Ave. on a report of a suicidal man with a knife.
Witness video posted online shows a man surrounded by three officers on the street, guns drawn. Police say they first used a taser, which they say did not work.
The man is seen slowly walking towards a fourth officer, who had just arrived on the scene. Police say he did not respond to a command to drop what Boisvert describes as a “large” knife. The fourth officer then opened fire.
Neighbors gathered on the street during the incident, some saying they’re familiar with the man who was shot, referring to him as “Stevie.” Some were critical of police for failing to deescalate the conflict.
Witnesses are heard on video yelling, “Drop the knife!” and “Don’t shoot him!”
“Everybody said, ‘Don’t shoot him, he’s not on his meds,’ all that,” said witness Troy McDermott, who spoke to WFSB. “The officer shot.
Like, he walked towards the officer a little bit and the officer shot.”
McDermott added, “You could have deescalated that situation.
You said you tased him. Why couldn’t you shoot him in the leg? 6-7 shots in the chest? A little bit much.”
The state inspector general’s office is investigating, as it does after shootings by police.
The Blue Hills Ave. shooting comes eight days after Hartford police shot and killed another man with a knife, Everard Walker. Police in that case escorted mental health workers responding to a 2-1-1 call about a man suffering from mental distress. Officers’ response escalated into a physical altercation involving police, the victim and his family. The family plans a wrongful death lawsuit in that case.