Autistic Teen Holding Garden Tool Shot Dead by Police

A sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a 15-year-old boy with autism from Apple Valley, California, after the teenager charged at him using a garden tool. 

Apple Valley is a town of approximately 76,000 people located in Southern California, 49 miles north of San Bernardino.

The incident, recorded on a body camera, occurred on Saturday, March 9, 2024, following a 911 distress call about a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 13400 block of Iroquois Road.  On the call, a family member reported to Sheriff’s Dispatch that Ryan Gainer was actively assaulting family members and damaging property at the residence.

Around 4:54 p.m., upon arrival at the scene, the responding deputy encountered Gainer, who was wielding a garden tool about five feet in length with a sharp edge. Gainer, without any apparent provocation, raised the tool and charged at the deputy. The deputy retreated, issuing verbal commands for Gainer to halt his approach, warning of potential lethal repercussions. Gainer, however, persisted, leading the deputy to discharge his weapon.

Immediately after, deputies provided first aid to Gainer and continued to do so until the arrival of paramedics. Gainer was rushed to a local hospital by ambulance, where he later died from his injuries. 

Neighbors and family members have since voiced that Gainer was autistic, a detail that has brought additional scrutiny to the handling of the incident. The family’s attorney also highlighted Gainer’s condition, questioning the justification of lethal force in this situation.

The sheriff’s department has released 911 audio and partial body-camera footage, though none include the moment of the shooting. The footage released shows a tense situation unfolding, with deputies warning Gainer before the shooting occurred.

Shannon Dicus, the San Bernardino Sheriff, defended the deputies’ actions, emphasizing the challenges in handling mental health crises and the split-second decision-making involved. The case is under investigation, and calls have been made for more transparency and releasing full body-camera footage.

This incident isn’t isolated; the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has faced scrutiny and legal challenges related to other use-of-force cases. 

Last year, the department was sued for the fatal shooting of Tony Garza during a mental health episode, where he was reportedly shot multiple times while fleeing. 

Additionally, the department has encountered controversy over an incident where a truck driver was wrongfully arrested following a minor altercation, resulting in a $375,000 jury award against the department. Another deputy resigned amid investigations into alleged drug activity.

The shooting of Ryan Gainer, under the backdrop of these previous incidents, underscores the pressing need for law enforcement to adopt more nuanced approaches to handling individuals experiencing mental health episodes to prevent future tragedies. 

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