The family of Christian Hall is calling for an independent investigation after the district attorney ruled his shooting death by police justified.
Police shot the suicidal teen on December 30 in Monroe County in Pennsylvania after receiving a 911 call.
The Pocono Record reports First Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso said two troopers attempted to talk Hall down from an freeway overpass.
A third trooper who Mancuso described as having a master’s degree in clinical health psychology arrived and successfully convinced Hall to sit on the road.
He said the teen whose mom is Filipino American and father is Black eventually put the gun down and stepped away, but later put it in his waistband and leaned against a barrier. He then sent suicidal messages to an ex-girlfriend.
According to police, Hall took several slow steps towards the troopers and refused demands to put the gun down before officers fired several shots.
Mancusco said Hall put his arms up and raised the gun into the air. A corporal and another trooper then fired a second round of shots, hitting Hall.
“The use of against Christian Hall, deadly force by Pennsylvania State Police was justified under the circumstances due to Hall’s actions which created a threat of death or bodily injury,” Mancuso said, according to PA Home Page.
The family sees it differently.
“When somebody’s contemplating suicide and they call others, it’s a cry for help. And, unfortunately, instead of getting help, Christian got bullets. Even after he put his hands up, they shot,” said the family’s attorney Ben Crump.
The family has not commented publicly since the DA’s office announced its ruling. The family, did however, take to Facebook to thank everyone for their support.
They vowed to keep fighting for their son.
Co-counsel Devon Jacob said the actions by the troopers “shows a complete lack of training.”
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