HOLLY HILL, Fla. – Body-camera video shows a man with schizophrenia was shot and killed by Holly Hill police after he charged at an officer with a knife, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office released the video on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the fatal shooting on Ridgewood Avenue. The video can be seen in the media player above. A word of warning, the video contains graphic content, and viewer discretion is advised. The sheriff’s office is supplying operational support to the Holly Hill department after multiple officers and the chief resigned amid allegations of inappropriate conduct.
The sheriff said 911 dispatchers received a call from the man who was shot and killed as well as his mother. In the 911 call from the man, he can be heard saying that he is hearing voices that are telling him to kill people. The man can be heard saying that he has a steak knife.
Around the same time, the man’s mother calls to warn officers that her son has schizophrenia and is known to be violent.
“He doesn’t want me to come over cuz he tried to kill me before,” the woman said to dispatchers in the recording.
The dispatcher speaking with the man can be heard encouraging him to stay inside and put away the knife.
“She’s right there outside,” the man can be heard saying in the recording.
“Who’s outside?” the dispatcher responds.
“Nicole,” the man said in the recording. “I’m going to kill her.”
A moment later, screams can be heard coming through the phone. It is not clear exactly what happened.
The video then cuts to body camera footage that shows an officer arriving on the scene. The man is seen charging the officer, who has his gun drawn.
The officer orders the man repeatedly to drop his knife but he continues charging the officer, who is backing up.
The officer eventually opens fire and the man can be seen dropping to the ground, but he gets back up again seconds later and resumes charging the officer.
The officer is then seen firing several more times. The video shows the man fall to his knees where he remains until more officers arrive and they begin rendering aid.
The man ultimately died at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now investigating the shooting.
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