The alarming video of a Florida police officer shooting a teen in the back after mistaking a cell phone for a gun as surfaced and is raising more questions about police strategy. The shooting took place back in September 2013 but the video has just been released on account of a federal suit.
The victim, was then 20 year old Dontrell Stephens, was riding his bike in a Southern Florida neighborhood. The officer Adam Lin followed the man in his car, drove across the grass and proceeded to use the highly disputed “Stop-and-Frisk” practice.
The officer claimed that he believed that the young had something in his hand that looked like a gun, which led to him pursing Stephens and shooting him. Stephens was left paralyzed from the waist down.
The video proves Stephens was actually holding his cell phone.The video contradicts all claims made previously by Lin. The officer never commanded Stephens to stop before he quickly exited the vehicle and fired four times.
Stephens does have a criminal history however the officer did not have a reason to stop him at that time.
This video comes to us during a time where unjustified police shootings are becoming a sickening trend.
Source; Global Grind
