Dashcam video shows police officer shooting Dontrell Stephens in the back four times
theGRIO REPORT - In September of 2013, Dontrell Stephens, 20, was talking on his cell phone and riding his bike when he realized he was being followed by police. He walked toward the deputy and, four seconds later, was shot at four times...
In September of 2013, Dontrell Stephens, 20, was talking on his cell phone and riding his bike when he realized he was being followed by police.
He walked toward the deputy and, four seconds later, was shot at four times. He is now paralyzed from the waist down.
Thursday, Florida television station WPTV obtained exclusive footage of the incident, which shows Deputy Adam Lin shooting Stephens in the back.
He also can be heard talking to another deputy and assessing what to do next.
That same day of the shooting, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw defended Lin.
“Stop what you’re doing and comply with us,” he told reporters. “There’s nothing in the rules of engagement that says we have to put our lives in jeopardy to wait to find out what this is to get killed.”
Lin returned to duty four days later, and the shooting was declared justified months later by the State Attorney’s Office and PBSO.
However, West Palm Beach attorney Jack Scarola, who is representing Stephens, requested the video and found that there were discrepancies between what Lin says happened and what is shown in the footage.
“There are no records of any commands ever made to Dontrell Stephens,” explained Scarola.
“The deputy’s recorded statements following the shooting were absolutely false. Internal affairs completely ignored that evidence,” he said.
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