Stock image of a police patrol car.Photo:Getty
Getty
The Gainer family’s attorney, DeWitt M. Lacy, told PEOPLE that Gainer was autistic and “experienced some type of upsetting of his normal routine because he needed to do his chores.”
The County of San Bernardino County Sheriff logo.Alamy
Alamy
As Gainer charged, the officer ran away and shouted: “Hey! Get back! Get back you’re gonna get shot!”
It was then that the second deputy opened fire, striking Gainer.
Stock image of police car lights.Shutterstock
The other deputy fired their gun three times, and Gainer was struck in his side, confirmed Lacy. The deputies then provided medical aid to the teenager until paramedics arrived, per the SBSD release.
Lacy disputed the release, and told PEOPLE the deputies didn’t administer medical support until five to 10 minutes later. “Instead of rendering life-saving aid after two adult armed police officers shot and wounded Ryan… laying in his driveway bleeding, they did not give him aid,” said Lacy. “They stopped neighbors from giving aid. They stopped the family from giving aid. And they held everybody at bay.”
An ambulance then took Gainer to a local hospital, where he died.
Stock image of yellow caution tape.gorodenkoff/Getty
gorodenkoff/Getty
Sheriff Shannon Dicus issued astatementon Sunday. “Our social safety net for those experiencing mental illness needs to be strengthened. Our deputies handle seemingly insurmountable calls daily. Most of these calls do not end in violence,” Dicus' statement read.
“However, this one ended in tragedy for Ryan, his family, and for the deputies who responded,” continued Sheriff Dicus. “Rapidly evolving, violent encounters are some of the most difficult, requiring split second decisions. While these decisions are lawful, they are awful in terms of our humanity. I feel for both Ryan’s family and my deputies who will struggle with this for their entire lives.”
The SBSD Specialized Investigations Division is investigating the incident.
Lacy told PEOPLE the family is planning on pressing charges, which they plan to announce in a press conference later this week.
Anyone with further information is urged to contact detectives at (909) 890-4904.
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Representatives for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Monday.
source: people.com
