Deputy says he'd shoot unarmed man again given circumstances

Source: Associated Press

Deputy says he'd shoot unarmed man again given circumstances

Terry Spencer, Associated Press

Updated 5:19 pm, Monday, February 1, 2016

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A sheriff's deputy told a federal jury Monday that he would still shoot an unarmed 22-year-old black man, given the man's actions in the seconds before he fired.

Palm Beach County Sgt. Adams Lin testified under cross-examination that "the totality of circumstances" led him to believe Dontrell Stephens had drawn a gun on Sept. 13, 2013, and was about to shoot him when he pulled his service weapon and shot Stephens four times, leaving him paralyzed. Lin testified that Stephens started to raise his hands but then put his left hand behind his back. Stephens then thrust a dark object at him that he thought was a handgun, Lin said.

"I would make the same, exact choice again," Lin told the six-woman, two-man jury. "If I saw a dark object coming at me like a gun, I would take the steps necessary to protect myself."

Stephens is suing Lin and the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office, alleging his civil rights were violated. He's seeking more than $5 million to cover medical treatment and future care. The jury must decide whether Lin made an "objectively reasonable mistake" when he shot Stephens.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Deputy-man-he-shot-expected-to-finish-testimony-6797543.php