Alexander King: Cops fatally shoot Florida boy, 17, who was waving pellet gun at cars
TARPON SPRINGS, FLORIDA: Authorities revealed how a 17-year-old boy was fatally shot by officers after he pointed a "military-style rifle" at them as they were responding to reports that the boy was targeting passing cars with what turned out to be an airsoft gun.
Alexander King, of Tarpon Springs, Florida, was shot dead by police at 9.30 pm on Saturday, October 16, after reports that he was waving a firearm at passing cars at the North Pinellas and Tarpon Avenues intersection. The pellet gun-wielding teenager, who had two prior felony arrests, raised his weapon at police when two officers arrived at the scene, Tarpon Springs Police Chief Jeffrey Young said.
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According to ABC Action News, the Tarpon Springs High School student had posted about the gun on his Instagram page on March 24. "New airsoft Vietnam era M14. I absolutely love it," he wrote alongside a picture of the firearm. Police bodycam footage shows the officers approaching the intersection where King was scaring passing vehicles while screaming "cover the area" and "get out of the car". Young said in a statement how the "two officers, in fear for theirs and the lives of others, fired multiple rounds each at the subject."
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the two officers hid behind a car and fired at least 12 rounds — seven from a patrol rifle and five from a handgun, before handcuffing the teenager. Officers attempted to perform CPR on King until first responders arrived at the scene. However, the handcuffed teen was pronounced dead at 11.05 pm at Bayonet Point Hospital in Hudson, Florida, the New York Daily News reported.
It later emerged that King, who was identified on Monday, October 18, had had 22 run-ins with the law and his weapon at the scene was determined to be a pellet rifle. According to the Daily News, the eleventh grader had two felony arrests — one for the battery of a school board employee in 2017 and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in 2018. However, it was unclear whether he was ever convicted of the charges.
Young revealed that an internal investigation into the incident is currently underway in order to ensure proper protocols were followed. The police chief deferred any questions to the FDLE, which is also conducting a separate investigation. Meanwhile, both officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave, per standard protocol following an officer-involved shooting. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Alex King," Young offered. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the officers and their families as they, too, deal with the aftermath of this event."
The Tarpon Springs High School is providing guidance counselors to all students who need it following King's death. "The Pinellas County Schools community is saddened by the passing of one of our students at Tarpon Springs High School," the school's spokesperson Isabel Mascarenas said in a statement. "The district Students Services team will provide grief counselors for students and staff needing assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the student's family and friends."