Mentally disabled man shot dead by police while playing with a TOY GUN after 911 calls from terrified neighbours

By Hannah Roberts
Updated:

 A mentally disabled man has been shot dead by police because he was playing with a toy gun.

Police gunned down Ernest Vassell after residents, who saw a man carrying what appeared to be a rifle, called 911.

Authorities said they had to fire as Vassell was terrorising the neighbourhood in North Miami Beach, Florida.

Gunned down: Ernest Vassell had been mentally disabled since he was a child

Gunned down: Ernest Vassell had been mentally disabled since he was a child

But devastated family members say the 56-year old, who had been mentally disabled since he was a child, had been had never been violent.

Police spokesman Sgt. Warren Hardison said there was an encounter with the man and officers and shots were fired. He was taken by helicopter to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Vassell's devastated family is now demanding answers. Older sister Claire Harding said that her bortehr was autistic. She said: 'They murdered him in cold blood for a toy gun. That's no reason for you to kill somebody.'

In shock: Vassell's sister Claire Harding says her brother had never been violent

In shock: Vassell's sister Claire Harding says her brother had never been violent

Tragic blunder: Vassell was airlifted to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival

Tragic blunder: Vassell was airlifted to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival

She added: 'They could tell him to drop the gun. They say they told him to drop it and he raised his hand,' WFOR reported.

'He probably raised his hand to hand them the gun because he is afraid of police.'

The family has called for changes to the Police Department.

Harding added: 'They should train these police officers better. This is ridiculous, they just go around killing people for nothing.'

Officers encountered the man shortly after 5:15 p.m, said North Miami Beach police spokeswoman Maj. Kathy Katerman.

The shooting has shocked the residential neighbourhood in North Beach, Miami

The shooting has shocked the residential neighbourhood in North Beach, Miami

Officers gave the man commands, which people in the area heard,  The man turned toward the officers. Shots were fired, Katerman said, and the man fell to the ground.

Witnesses told CBS that at one point the man aimed the rifle at a neighbourhood dog.

Marie Belizaire, who called 911, told Local10 she was inside her car when she spotted Vassell.

She said: 'I noticed this individual with a big rifle in his hand. All of us were swerving and ducking because we didn't know what was his next move.'

Vassell's sisters say they have never seen him with a toy gun and believe he must have found it. They say he was mentally disabled after a brain injury as a child and that he has never been violent.

Police maintain the toy gun appeared to be a real rifle. One officer is on administrative leave while police and the state attorney's office investigate this incident.

No one else was injured in the shooting.


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