EspañolFoster Care Youth, 17, Killed By San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputies While Experiencing Mental Health Crisis At Home In Victorville
VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA (April 3, 2024) – A 17-year-old boy tragically died in a Victorville police shooting while in foster care at a home in Victorville.
San Bernardino County officials are saying that the incident took place on Wednesday. Deputies were called to help a boy who locked himself in the bathroom of a home.
The teenage boy was being transferred to a hospital in order to receive mental health care. Authorities said that the boy lived in foster care in Hesperia.
However, he showed up at the home in Victorville, where his sisters lived in foster care. When police arrived, they found the boy locked in the bathroom of the home with a knife.
Deputies said they tried to get the boy out of the bathroom for half an hour. At some point, deputies said that the boy threatened to harm himself before they kicked the door in.
During the encounter, at least one deputy opened fire and struck the boy. Despite life-saving measures, he was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time. This is the second time in less than a month that California officers have killed a minor in a police shooting.
Liability For Victorville Police Shootings
Thousands of people are harmed every year during police encounters. Many of these people never committed any crime. They were simply in the midst of a mental health crisis. According to the International Bipolar Foundation, “Nationwide, at least 25% of people who are shot and killed by police officers suffer from acute mental illness at the time of their death. People with untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to be fatally shot during an encounter with police than people with their mental illnesses under control.” Many different factors can increase the likelihood of a police shooting.
- Police shootings are much more likely to take place when officers are fatigued or stressed.
- Police shootings are more likely to occur when officers are not adequately trained on how to act in certain situations.
- Police shootings are more likely when individuals don’t get adequate treatment for their mental illness.
Law enforcement should only use lethal force as a last resort after other options have been exhausted. According to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of law, deprives someone of their rights afforded under the Constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. If an officer failed to follow safety rules for dealing with mentally ill suspects, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. It is important that certain steps be taken after any police shooting.
- Body camera footage from all officers involved should be reviewed.
- Medical records related to the shooting should be sought.
- The actions of the officers prior to the shooting should be understood.
- An experienced civil rights attorney should be contacted.
Police shootings can be extremely traumatic for the families of those who lose someone. To make matters worse, authorities are rarely transparent about any fatal encounter involving their officers. This is why it is so important to seek experienced legal counsel early on. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Victorville Police Shootings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our deepest condolences to the family of the boy killed in this Victorville police shooting. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.
Do you need more information about a Victorville police shooting? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to holding police departments accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
