The 911 name positioned from {the teenager}’s cellphone final week reported a younger one that could also be brandishing a gun in an Austin, Texas, car parking zone.
When officers arrived at a group park early Friday morning, they discovered 17-year-old Anthoneil Williams II, who all of the sudden appeared to raise his shirt and attain towards his waistband as officers informed him to maintain his palms up, physique digicam footage launched by police reveals.
Williams then raised each palms and prolonged them, with “his hands positioned together in front of him as if he was pointing a weapon at the officers,” police stated in a statement Wednesday, citing a assessment of footage of the taking pictures.
Three officers fired a number of rounds as Williams, who’s Black, fell to the bottom at a playground, video reveals. First responders tried to save lots of his life, however the teenager died on the scene, the Austin Police Department stated in a statement.
Williams was unarmed, with a water bottle in his waistband, police later decided.
“All points are indicating that this was a suicide by police,” Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis stated at a information convention Friday, noting this stays an energetic investigation. The preliminary 911 name was comprised of Williams’ cellphone, they added.
The teen’s death has fueled outrage from metropolis officers and group members who’re calling for better police accountability and has reignited a dialog about what psychological well being help could be offered earlier than lethal power is used. The three officers who opened fireplace have been positioned on administrative go away, per protocol, and the taking pictures is below investigation, police stated.
Police have stated the 911 caller was requested whether or not psychological well being providers have been wanted and had requested a police response.
“At no point during the call was this identified as a mental health crisis, and the caller disconnected before additional information could be obtained despite callback attempts,” Austin Police stated in a assertion to NCS affiliate KEYE.
The police division final week launched audio of the 911 name, which begins with the dispatcher asking, “Do you need police, fire, EMS or mental health services?”
“Police,” the caller responds.
“I’m looking out my window. There seems to be a kid. It looks like he has a gun … He keeps on messing with his waistband and I seen something in his hands,” the caller reported, in line with the audio. “It looks like a firearm but I’m not sure.”
The particular person was “brandishing” a firearm however was by himself, the caller stated, answering questions from dispatch.
Officers who responded situated Williams and “attempted to gain compliance by giving verbal commands to keep his hands up and asking him if he was okay,” Davis stated.
“Officers are often required to make life or death decisions in seconds,” the police chief added. “This was a rapidly evolving incident.”
Flowers, candles and tributes to Williams poured into the playground on the group park the place he was killed. As the group mourns {the teenager}, his death has additionally fueled calls for higher entry to psychological well being sources for younger folks.
Since the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, some cities nationwide have heeded calls to reallocate cash away from regulation enforcement and into psychological well being and social providers. Others have shifted the accountability of responding to non-violent psychological well being disaster calls to educated civilian applications somewhat than police, comparable to Los Angeles and Baltimore.
“This tragedy is a reminder that access to timely mental health and behavioral health care and support can make a meaningful difference for individuals and families facing a crisis,” Councilmember Natasha Harper-Madison stated in a statement.
Austin police are conducting a prison investigation with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, in addition to an administrative investigation by means of their inside affairs unit, police stated in a information launch.
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office informed NCS it should conduct an impartial assessment of the taking pictures after the police division concludes its investigation and turns over proof.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Anthoneil Williams II. We are committed to ensuring a thorough review,” the workplace stated.
NCS has reached out to the Austin Police Department and Austin mayor’s workplace for extra remark.
Over the previous few days, a vigil was held to grieve {the teenager} earlier than he was recognized and protesters marched within the metropolis’s downtown to face in solidarity with Williams’ household and name for accountability.
Some marched to the workplace of Travis County District Attorney José P. Garza to demand he carry prices towards the officers concerned within the taking pictures.
“People are angry,” an attendee who solely recognized himself as David T. stated on the vigil Saturday, in line with NCS affiliate KVUE. “People understand there needs to be something done.”
Williams’ pals described {the teenager} as selfless and a good pal on the vigil over the weekend, in line with KVUE.
“It breaks my heart. I’m speechless. Everybody’s broken. It’s like they took a part of me with them when they took him,” stated Ameer Alogaili, who described being pals with Williams since they have been 11 years previous.
Another pal, Santiago Aguirre, stated on the vigil Williams at all times prioritized others it doesn’t matter what he was going by means of, in line with KVUE.
“With him, it didn’t matter how he was feeling. He always put people first,” Aguirre stated.
Some Austin City Council members have launched statements on social media calling for a clear investigation.
“As we debate next year’s budget and ask the public to trust our public safety institutions, that trust will be earned through transparency and accountability,” stated Councilman Zo Qadri in a social media post.
The Austin Justice Coalition, a area people group, decried Williams’ killing and known as for accountability.
“Every loss of life is heartbreaking. Every family deserves answers,” Austin City Council member José Velásquez stated in a statement Saturday. “And our community deserves to know that every possible effort was made to respond with compassion, care, and de-escalation during a mental health crisis.”
Neighbors who dwell close to the location described being unsettled by the police taking pictures going down of their group park the place kids play.
“The footage was disturbing because it hit home,” Jeffrey Metzger informed KVUE. “It was right on the jungle gym where my grandchildren play, and we swim in the pool, and I know we’ll be thinking of that.”
Amairelys Flores, who lives throughout the road from the place Williams was killed, stated she heard a number of rounds of gunfire early Friday morning, in line with KEYE.
Police, she informed KEYE, ought to affirm there’s an energetic menace earlier than utilizing lethal power. “Four a.m., you see a boy right there and what are you gonna do?” Flores stated. “Probably, that boy needs help.”