Arizona Police Shoots Man With Multiple Bean Bag Rounds In Front Of Children While Serving A Warrant
A community in Mesa, Arizona is outraged after a man was shot right in front of his kids.
According to TMZ and ABC 15, the man seen in the now-viral video has been identified as Lorenzo Jones. The news site reports that Mesa SWAT went to serve him a warrant on Thursday, July 16, over an altercation that happened earlier in the month with his girlfriend and her sister.
Apparently, Jones was supposed to appear in court earlier in the day but failed to show, which is why an arrest warrant was issued. However, in the video, Jones tries to tell the cops he had indeed shown up at the courthouse but things took an unfortunate turn as cops gave him orders to surrender. Although you can see Jones putting his hands up, one of the officer’s fire a bean bag round that squarely hit Jones, who ends up falling to the ground in pain. TMZ notes that SWAT fired 2 more rounds, hitting him both times even though he was already on the floor.
Police Chief Ken Cost said, “They [the cops] felt that he was armed and dangerous.” However, as many people pointed out, Jones was shot when he had his hands up in the air and when he was laying on the ground. Those who watched the disturbing clip believes the officers were using excessive force. The Mesa Police Dept. is now investigating.
Jones was was accused of assaulting the mother of his children and was later charged with aggravated assault on an officer, 3 counts of aggravated assault on a minor, resisting arrest, marijuana possession, assault causing fear of physical injury over the July 6th incident. However, he was later released.
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