The Long Beach Police Department released new body camera footage of a police shooting that left a man dead. Brandon Boyd, 38, was shot and killed after police responded to a call reporting a man with a gun. The video shows Boyd refusing to answer if he had a gun and making suicidal remarks. The situation escalated when SWAT resources were activated, leading to Boyd pointing a gun at officers and firing, resulting in his death and an officer being injured.
Boyd’s family and Black Lives Matter Long Beach held a press conference demanding accountability, claiming Boyd was experiencing mental health distress and seeking help. They criticized the police’s use of force, particularly the deployment of a flash grenade. They called for charges to be dropped against Boyd’s family members who were arrested following the incident, and demanded a review of the LBPD’s policies for mental health crisis calls.
In response, the Long Beach Police Department promised full transparency in the investigation. The family created a GoFundMe to support Boyd’s children, and urged anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide to seek help. The incident highlights the complexities of responding to mental health crises, and raises questions about police tactics in such situations. As the community mourns Boyd’s death, calls for reform and justice grow louder.
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