On Saturday, Lavall Hall, a Miami Gardens man diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, was having an episode. His mother called police to help her calm down her son. As it turns out Hall's mother would never see her son alive again.
Miami Gardens Police showed up the scene and ended up fatally shooting the 25-year-old.
See also: Miami Gardens Police Killed Mentally Ill Man Armed With Broom, Family Claims
Miami Gardens Police Chief Stephen Johnson held a press conference yesterday claiming that Hall hit two officers multiple times with a broomstick. He claimed Hall hit one of the officers in the head with the four foot stick with a metal end. Both officers tried deployed their Tasers, but the department claims that neither attempt subdued Hall.
Officer Eddo Trimino responded by firing five shots, two of which hit Hall. (The officer had killed another person two years ago in self-defense on the job.)
The shooting is being investigated, and both officers are on paid administrative injured leave. Johnson however claimed that his officers were following protocol.
Following the incident, Hall has now become the latest subject of the #BlackLivesMatter internet movement after Tweets about his death by both locally based activist group Dream Defenders and Daily Kos writer Shaun King.
We are mourning the loss of #LavallHall and asking the community to share his story http://t.co/QxDyQdkG1z pic.twitter.com/uAbCWZTYAq
— The Dream Defenders (@Dreamdefenders) February 18, 2015We're heartbroken and we send love to the family and community of Lavall Hall. He's more than a hashtag. He was human pic.twitter.com/6Lt58wADAc
— The Dream Defenders (@Dreamdefenders) February 18, 2015Know the name of Lavall Hall. 25 years old. Had a RED BROOM in his hands when shot and killed by Miami police.
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) February 18, 2015Lavall Hall... tased and shot to death by police... #BlackLivesMatter
— Songs About Girls (@ItsJaleelYoung) February 18, 2015Look up "Lavall Hall". It's an incredibly sad story. Mental illness is real, people. pic.twitter.com/swoa9En8WF
— I. Taylor (@HeyCurlyGirly) February 18, 2015Why is there a point where "The Best they could do" is also the worst thing they possibly could have done? #PoliceBrutality #LavallHall
— Another Fake Anon (@AnotherFakeAnon) February 18, 2015As the #LavallHall case unfortunately continues to demonstrate, the police are not the people to call when dealing with the mentally ill.
— Ret Giles (@AyoRetOfficial) February 18, 2015Thoughts & condolences go out to the friends and family of #LavallHall of Miami, another soul struck down by #policeviolence #Every28Hours
— Odist Abettor (@OdistAbettor) February 18, 2015if youre scared of a broomstick but not scared to fire a bullet, clearly you dont deserve your job. RIP #LavallHall #BlackLivesMatter
— ying (@prxityy) February 18, 2015Sad to say that this doesn't surprise me, most Miami cops are so brutal. #LavallHall #BlackLivesMatter
— Sofia☼ (@sofiadrianaa) February 18, 2015#LavallHall as a person with mental illness, these deaths make me so angry. Tragic incompetence on police
— Cat (@LoftEintentions) February 18, 2015Follow Miami New Times on Facebook.
