Cognitively Challenged Miami Man Fatally Shot While Brandishing Toy Rifle
Managing Editor's Note: Here's a tragedy straight from the AofA "Nightmare" files. Ernest Vassell was fatally shot by police who assumed the rifle he was brandishing was real, and not a toy. Who (if anyone) allowed an adult with a disability to carry a toy rifle around a neighborhood in 2011? It was a recipe for disaster. Our condolences to the family. And to the officer who fired the shot. From Fox News. Feel free to pop over to Fox to add a comment. The story is on every major news outlet as well. Note some reports (like the one below) say Mr. Vassell had autism, another report says he suffered brain injury in a fall as a child.
Family Says Autistic Man With Toy Gun Shot, Killed by Florida Police
Published September 01, 2011
NORTH MIAMI BEACH – A man whose family said he was autistic was killed by police in North Miami Beach after pointing a real-looking toy gun at an officer, police said Thursday.
Police officers responded to 911 calls about a man seen walking around the neighborhood Wednesday afternoon with a rifle, North Miami Beach Police Director Thomas Carney said.
Officers gave commands for the man to drop the weapon, but he refused and pointed it at an officer, Carney said.
The man identified as Ernest Vassell, 57, was carrying a realistic toy that could be confused with a rifle or shotgun, police said.
"It's very tragic," Carney said. "People don't understand that police officers are going to treat you like that's a real gun until we determine differently. They're not going to take any chances."
The victim's sister said Vassell was autistic and had mental challenges.
"Ernest did not deserve to die like this. Everyone is still in shock and disbelief," Marva Vassell-Gordon said.
His neighbors said it was obvious that Ernest Vassell had a disability, and police should have known.
"It's so strange to me that I can see it, and then, the police didn't see it. Or they didn't look for it," said Conroy Anderson, a family friend.
Police were not immediately releasing further information on the shooting pending an investigation
Final Note: Bruce Springsteen wrote this haunting song about Amadou Diallo, a young man who was shot 41 times in The Bronx, NY when police thought the wallet he flashed was a gun. Police shootings often draw controversy. "Is it a gun? Is it a knife? Is it a wallet? This is your life." I'm not comparing shooting an unarmed man with a man carrying what looked like a real rifle - it just seemed emotionally "right" to share this song. In both cases, an innocent man died. KS
Yes this is a God-awful tragedy but Does anyone have compassion for the law enforcement officer?? This was Miami people, lots of crime. Officers are shot/killed. I completely agree there needs to be more training for police re:autism, but vilifying the police officer isn't helping anything. It just makes us all sound like extremist kooks. Have we read the police report? Were we there? It's a tragedy any way you look at it. I don't need a Springsteen song about police brutality following this article. Seriously AoA, you are losing me. This constant anti-establishment attitude deflects from the great messages you are saying!!!!
Posted by: A mom | November 11, 2011 at 03:14 AM
What an awful story. I hope it has a happy ending. I feel great sympathy for his loved ones. They are in my prayers
Posted by: Dana DeArmond | September 07, 2011 at 05:03 PM
I feel great sympathy for his loved ones. They are in our prayers.
Posted by: kerbob1 | September 02, 2011 at 07:17 PM
Thoughts are with the family..and if it weren`t for Autism this man would still be alive today.
Godbless
Posted by: Angus Files | September 02, 2011 at 06:19 PM
What a sad day! My prayers are with the family, and hopefully Ernest is in a place where everyone is happy and healthy with NO MORE IGNORANCE AND JUDGEMENT!
Another devastating tragedy that proves Autism CAN be DEADLY!
Shame on those who continue to be ignorant about what Autism REALLY IS and it's mich more serious than "JUST" social or behavior issues, it goes way beyond.....
I cringe when someone looks as if I over react to anything related to our boys safety/education/medical/health..when will the looks and stares and judgmental comments and such stop? How many Angels have to die tragically thru things like this, thru wandering thru drowning, thru seizures, to anything? How mamy more before people take us seriously? 1? 100? 10000000? I hope it's sooner than later, time goes fast and sooner or later where will we all be? 1 in 5 kids with "autism"....???
Educational systems are "failing" not because of just some bad schools, or overwhelmed/overworked teachers/lack of this or that,,they are failing in test scores and graduation rates because of our nations HEALTH CRISIS! Plain ND simple our kids are not healthy..and I don't juts mean diet and exercise, it does play an important role but more seriously in addition the CORE of these issues, where health declines and cognitive ability becomes delayed or regression happens....HUGE core issues here that need NO MORR BAND-Aids but real solutions, HONEST evaluations and complete studies to find out why so many kids have auto immune issues, allergies, asthma, specilal needs, speech delays, Autism and others..,
Only THEN will be be able to "fix" our economy, once we get our nations health in order, for our kids, for our future as a nation...
Until then deaths like Ernests will be in vain and needless accidents, needless deaths and so many needless arrests/institutionalization/jailing/etc it will all continue and stories like Ernests and other will be yesterday's news, before sundown...
What can we do, what can we REALLY DO?
Sorry for this long vent but I just have had one of THOSE DAYS, you know, when a tragedy like Ernests death happens, its the straw that breaks the camels back and its downhill from there...,ya know?
ARGGGGGGGHHHHHH!
So when we are all moving to Detroit, buying up all of the $10 houses and land and rebuilding t make our special city? Perfect community of support and acceptance, what we can call the real world, our own real world? Come on, whose with me??? Build houses, schools, businesses where our teens and adults can work and then live with others all in a great and encouraging community? Anyone? I wish I could win the lotto, I would be there building in one second! Anyone want to fund the start of it? I will gladly be out there with hammers and nails tomorrow! ;)
It's a day when dreams like that, dreams where our kids can live and be NORMAL and be accepted and be RESPECTED, it's the dreams like this and the unexpected belly laughs that make days like today livable again!
Angie
Proud Mom to Ethan, Alex, and Megan
Posted by: Angie | September 02, 2011 at 05:58 PM
wow this is a very said story you never want things like this to happen my prayers are with those who were close to him.
Posted by: Tcars Flank | September 02, 2011 at 08:09 AM