A Black Miami behavior therapist is now in the hospital after being shot Monday by North Miami police officers while helping an autistic patient calm down.
According to Miami’s WSVN News, Charles Kinsey was attending to a patient who ran away from a group home where Kinsey works. Neighbors called 911 claiming the autistic patient had a weapon in his hand, but it turned out to be a toy truck.
Cellphone video released Wednesday afternoon depicts Kinsey lying on the ground with his hands in the air. The behavior therapist instructed officers to not fire their weapons and that the patient was not holding a weapon.
While in his hospital bed, Kinsey recalls the traumatic event.
“It was like a mosquito bite, and when it hit me, I’m like, ‘I still got my hands in the air,’ and I said, ‘No I just got shot!’ And I’m saying, ‘Sir, why did you shoot me?’ and his words to me, he said, ‘I don’t know.’ ”
The officer responsible told Kinsey he “did not know” why he shot him. Police aren’t releasing the name of the officer who’s since been placed on administrative leave.
After the video surfaced, many white Twitter users tore each other apart about the usage of #alllivesmatter and #bluelivesmatter.
https://twitter.com/Anomaly100/status/756080196583690240
The only way #CharlesKinsey could have complied more was to have killed himself before cops got there.
— Helena Baptiste (@🏡) 🕊️ (@sumbodysbabygrl) July 21, 2016
Hey fellow caucasians. Remember that time you were shot for laying down with your arms up, or pulled over and shot? No? #BLM #CharlesKinsey
— Matthew Gellert (@MatthewGellert) July 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/Anomaly100/status/756078792909594624
https://twitter.com/KingJohnLove/status/756078515661991936
https://twitter.com/badmiamiboi/status/756075114697928708
Why are people asking for the full #CharlesKinsey video? Y'all wanna see his lunch break too?
— 🎈 (@joseph__amiel) July 21, 2016
"Sir, why did you shoot me?"
"I don't know…"
is 400 years of American history wrapped into one conversation #CharlesKinsey— Alex Hill (@coachalexboxing) July 21, 2016
Yes! The roles completely reversed. The cop was the panicking criminal and #charleskinsey was helping talk him down! https://t.co/nbWsrw2Kqd
— @PattyM is @ShakerPM on Threads (@pattym) July 21, 2016
It's crazy; the argument against the shooting of #CharlesKinsey is "well, he didn't die."
— Ty. (@MFN_Ty) July 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/matthewkick/status/756115030769360896
Follow the law they said ✔️
Obey the officers commands they said✔️
Don't resist they said ✔️
You won't get shot they said#CharlesKinsey
— Bambi (@SaiyanPineapple) July 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/joshxholder/status/756112370942914560
Twitter user meakoopa spoke with North Miami police via Twitter about the shooting. The Miami police department of Dade County wanted to clarify that they were not involved.
The @MiamiPD slid into my DMs to comment on #CharlesKinsey shooting, but refuses to condemn it. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/WpFKdEz2YV
— Anthony Oliveira (@meakoopa) July 21, 2016
