Apple Valley, California, United States

Authorities released body-camera footage Wednesday showing the lead-up to deputies shooting and killing a 15-year-old boy with autism who was charging at a deputy with a large gardening tool, in a case that has sparked outrage.

Two deputies shot Ryan Gainer in front of his Apple Valley, Calif., home after the teen came at a deputy with a raised hula hoe — a tool with a metal head used to remove weeds — on Saturday afternoon, San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said Wednesday during a news conference.

“There are no winners or losers in situations like this. The reality is that Ryan's family and the deputy sheriffs who were involved in this case will have to remember this for their entire lives,” Dicus said.

Dicus said that his deputies follow their training but added that the department is investigating the shooting and that prosecutors will do the same.

The Gainers are focused on burying their loved one but plan to file a lawsuit, the family's attorney DeWitt Lacy told The Washington Post on Thursday.

“I get it. … It may have been unnerving for an officer, but that doesn't mean to get to shoot a 15-year-old dead,” Lacy said.

He said Gainer was upset Saturday because of a classic dispute: His parents wanted him to do his chores, but the teen wanted to listen to music or play video games. But Gainer's developmental disorder heightened the emotions of the typical argument, Lacy said. The teen broke glass in the front door, Lacy said, but no one was hurt.

A family member called 911 asking for help because Gainer was “actively assaulting family members and damaging property at the residence,” according to a news release from the sheriff's department.

The agency released two videos Wednesday, from body-worn cameras of each of the first deputies to arrive at the house.

Dicus said the preliminary investigation shows that both deputies shot and that three rounds in total were fired. The first deputy was at the house less than 30 seconds before Gainer charged at him. He said his deputies were dealing with a tough and fast-moving situation.

“There are no magic words,” he said. “We pay law enforcement officers to stop threats and stop violence.”

Dicus said deputies had been called to the house five times since January because of disturbances caused by the teen and each time helped calm him and get him medical treatment without use of force. Dicus added that it isn't clear whether either of the deputies who shot Gainer knew the teen from those interactions or knew about his developmental or mental health.

Lacy said he assumes the deputies knew about Gainer, who was prone to running away and calling 911. Lacy said this is a relatively unpopulated and rural area of the high desert.

Dicus said the “social safety net needs to be strengthened” so his deputies aren't dealing with situations more suited to mental health professionals.

“Law enforcement officers are our fists. We are civilized. They go out and do this work for us, and they need to be supported,” he said, calling for the community to unite.

But family members are angry and feel deputies didn't do enough to de-escalate the situation.

“There's no reason a 15-year-old autistic teen should be dead because he acted out without causing imminent danger,” Lacy said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/03/14/ryan-gainer-autistic-teen-police-shooting/