Investigation Sparked After Cops Fatally Shoot Man in Wheelchair
An investigation was launched after Jeremy McDole, a wheelchair bound man, was shot and killed by Wilmington, Deleware police. McDole's mother called the shooting "unjust," while police claim he was pulling a gun from his waist when they opened fired on the 28-year-old.
Police responded to a 911 call about a man who had shot himself, and when they arrived to the scene they found McDole, who they claim was still armed. According to Police Chief Bobby Cummings, officers told McDole to put the weapon down, and when he was taking the gun from his waist band the officers "engaged him."
Released footage shows the wheelchair bound man moving around in his wheelchair while officers tell him to put his weapon on the ground. It's unclear from the video if McDole was reaching for a gun, but he can be seen reaching in his jeans before officers fatally shoot McDole.
The man's mother spoke on the incident, "He was in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down. There's video showing that he didn't pull a weapon ... I need answers."
McDole's death is being investigated by the department's criminal investigation and professional standards units, along with the Delaware Department of Justice's Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust, which will determine if the officers will be charged.