"San Bernardino Sheriff Defends Deputy's Fatal Shooting of Teen Holding Gardening Tool Amid Calls for Mental Health Reform"
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus defended a deputy's actions in the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ryan Gainer, who had autism, after charging at the deputy with a gardening tool. The sheriff released body camera footage showing the deputies' efforts to administer medical attention while waiting for paramedics. Some in the community criticized the department's actions, questioning whether the deputies could have used a Taser and whether they acted quickly enough to save the teen's life. Sheriff Dicus emphasized that the deputy had only seconds to react and defend himself from a physical threat, regardless of whether he was aware of the teen's autism.
