Page 33 - Florida Sentinel 4-19-19

Crime
Attorney: Teenager Shot By Deputy Paralyzed
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last month, a 17-year-old was shot by a Hillsborough County deputy. The deputy had responded in reference to a domestic violence complaint.
Earlier this week, an attorney representing the youth’s family said the teenager is paralyzed as a result of the shooting. The teenager was not armed at the time of the shoot- ing.
Background of Incident
The incident began around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26th. Deputies responded to the Jasmine Terrace Apartments on Skipper Road, domestic violence complaint. The call ended with a teenager being shot by one of the responding deputies.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, two 9- 1-1 calls were received around 7:42 p.m. The callers reported a domestic violence situation in which two peo-
ple were attacked.
When the deputies arrived at
the incident in the 1200 block, of Skipper Road, they were told that a 17-year-old had hit his sister and “knocked out his mother.”
The callers told police no weapons were involved, but one of the victims was bleeding. The callers also said the suspect had left the
Police search for this person as a possible witness in shooting.
“... Since the evening of the event of the incident, detectives have conducted additional interviews, forensically mapped the scene of the incident, conducted investigative re- search, obtained and reviewed all forensic evidence and have submit- ted the firearm to the Florida De- partment of Law Enforcement for analysis.
“Additionally, we are attempting to locate an individual who was in the area at the time the shooting oc- curred. We are asking assistance in locating this individual.”
Attorney Releases Statement
Attorney Michael T. Davis,
of Kuehne Davis Law, P. A., of Miami, released the following state- ment, “This statement is offered on behalf of the family and the victim of the unfortunate Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office shooting oc- curring on March 26, 2019. The family is anxiously awaiting the con- clusion of the police investigation, and call upon the community to bring any relevant information to the attention of his attorneys...
“For reasons unexplained, the shooting deputy has not agreed to speak with his employer, the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Office, and explain why he shot the unarmed ju- venile, opting instead to provide a statement through his lawyer.
“This confirms what has been
known since the tragic and unex- plained near-fatal shooting —- that the deputy’s decision to shoot an un- armed 5’3” Black teenager is not and cannot be justified. While we appre- ciate the Sheriff’s willingness to con- tinue searching for witnesses to confirm that the use of deadly force was unjustified, we also believe the teenager, his family and the entire community are owed a prompt ex- planation of the shooting of an un- armed Black young man.
“The teenager remains under hospital care, recovering from his in- juries. His entire life will never be the same because of the unjustified shooting. He is paralyzed from the chest down. The family of the un- armed teen remains hopeful that the Sheriff’s Office will do what is right to remedy this senseless tragedy,” the statement said.
Both the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Attorney Davis is requesting that anyone with information contact authori- ties.
area on foot.
The callers also told police the
teenager was wearing an all red jumpsuit. When deputies arrived at the apartment complex, the suspect was gone.
Several minutes later, Deputy Daniel Estanislau located and made contact with the suspect.
Police said, “At the time, Deputy Estanislau became in fear for his safety and due to his belief that the suspect possessed a weapon, he then ordered the suspect to “Drop the gun, drop the gun.”
Deputy Estanislau then fired two rounds from his service weapon, striking the suspect once in the upper body. When investigators ar- rived at the scene, no weapon was found.
The teenager was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he was listed in critical, but stable con- dition.
Deputy Estanislau, 26, was hired in October 2015. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investi- gation. Deputy Estanislau did not give his statement about the shoot- ing for more than two weeks after the shooting. The investigation is continuing.
Sheriff’s Office Statement Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a state- ment that his office “is committed to ensuring transparency in our inves- tigation of the deputy-involved
shooting.
UNCLE SANDY
Write it 13, 18, 28, 48 on your heart 30, 41, 43, 44 that every day 1, 8, 20, 50 is the best day in the year. 39, 49, 52, 80.
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