Salt Lake City police vow cooperation after officers shoot 13-year-old autistic boy

The New York Daily News - 9/9/2020

The Salt Lake City Police Department said Tuesday that it is “cooperating fully” with multiple investigations launched after Utah police shot a 13-year-old autistic boy multiple times.

At least three investigations are probing the officers’ response: one by Internal Affairs, one by the city’s Civilian Review Board and one by a group of officers from multiple agencies with no ties to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Golda Barton called police Friday night and asked for a crisis intervention team to help with her son, Linden, during a meltdown, she told KUTV.

“He’s unarmed, he doesn’t have anything, he just gets mad and he starts yelling and screaming,” Barton said she told the 911 responder. “He’s a kid he’s trying to get attention, he doesn’t know how to regulate.”

Instead, officers responded and, within five minutes, shot Linden multiple times.

Sgt. Keith Horrocks said his team had responded to a report of a “violent psych issue” involving the juvenile “having a mental episode” and “making threats to some folks with a weapon.” When the officers showed up, Linden allegedly ran, at which point the police fired.

No weapon was found, other than that used by the officer.

“He’s a small child. Why didn’t you just tackle him?” Barton told KUTV. “He’s a baby. He has mental issues.”

Linden remains hospitalized with injuries to his shoulder, both ankles, intestines and bladder, according to a GoFundMe that has raised more than $70,000 so far.

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