US police acted 'within guidelines' in teenager shooting

Officers acted “within guidelines” when they killed an unarmed mentally ill teenager in a hail of 20 bullets, the New York police chief said today.

Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the five officers involved reasonably believed 18-year-old Khiel Coppin, who was brandishing a hairbrush, was about to use deadly force against them outside a Brooklyn apartment last night.

Coppin’s mother had called police after arguing with her son and a 911 operator heard the 18-year-old yelling in the background, claiming he had a gun.

The killing evoked memories of a series of high-profile shootings involving police.

Unarmed Sean Bell died in a hail of 50 bullets on his wedding day in November 2006, and Amadou Diallo, an unarmed African immigrant, died when he was hit by 19 of the 41 shots fired by police in the Bronx in 1999.

At a press conference, Mr Kelly said: “This was a terrible tragedy for Khiel’s family, no question about it.

“Our condolences go out to his mother and to his family.

“As we know the facts now, this shooting appears to be within department guidelines, as officers fired at someone they reasonably believed to be about to use deadly force against them.”

He said Coppin told his mother he was “prepared to die”.

Mr Kelly said Coppin was not taking his medication, which included anti-psychotic and anti-depressant drugs.

In the 911 call, which was played to reporters, Mr Coppin could be heard shouting: “I got a gun and I’m going to shoot you… I got a gun.”

Mr Kelly said officers found Mr Coppin with two knives, one in each hand, when they approached the open door of the apartment at around 7pm local time (midnight Irish time) last night.

Officers told Coppin’s mother and her 11-year-old daughter, who were inside the apartment, to leave the building.

She told the officers at the scene her son was armed with knives, but not a gun.

But Coppin insisted he did have a gun and lunged at the officers shouting: “Shoot me, kill me”, as they approached.

The officers retreated to the outside doorway as Mr Coppin went further into the apartment, Mr Kelly said.

He said the officers had a clear view of the apartment and Coppin would periodically appear, either brandishing a knife, or with something under his black sweatshirt.

Mr Kelly said Coppin yelled: “Come get me, I have a gun. Let’s do this.”

Officers outside the building then saw Coppin jumping out the bedroom window.

Mr Kelly said: “Without hesitating, Khiel continued in the officers’ direction, ignoring multiple directives to stop, show his hands and get down on the ground.

“As he closed the distance between him and the officers he reached under his sweatshirt and pulled an object and pointed it in the officers’ direction, as if he were aiming a gun.

“In fact, he had a hairbrush in his hand.

“Five officers responded by firing a total of 20 rounds, striking Khiel eight times.”

The shooting occurred at around 7.19pm local time (12.19am Irish time).

Mr Kelly said all ten witnesses said they heard police order Coppin to stop and show his hands.

A 50-year-old woman said she saw Mr Coppin “lunging” at the officers and said he was “absolutely not” raising his hands to surrender.

A 15-year-old boy said after repeated warnings to stop, Coppin continued to approach the officers who were backing away, Mr Kelly said.

Coppin’s mother had attempted to have her son, who had a history of mental illness, hospitalised yesterday morning, before the dispute that ended in the fatal shooting.

At the scene earlier today, New York City councillor Charles Barron said: “How many times are they going to come on the scene and then lead to an unnecessary killing.

“This young man should still be alive today.

“His mother should be able to call the police department and get protection, not like she’s dialling M for murder.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said: “The circumstances of how it occurred at this point is under investigation and you can rest assured that we will take this very seriously.”

Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, said: “This is an unfortunate situation where the deceased convinced everyone involved – from family members to responding officers – that he was in possession of a gun.

“Tragically, he sought and succeeded in forcing a deadly confrontation with police.”