So four police officers shot dead a former NFL player | the Chronicle

Phoenix State Police posted body camera footage of a group of officers, in which the moment they shot and killed Ekom Udofia, a former NFL player, is seen.

Authorities said that early in the morning of November 30 responded to a report that a man, allegedly armed and under the influence of drugs, was trying to jump on cars.

As the video shows, officers upon arrival saw that the suspect had an air pistol. Udofia, 33, walked towards the police, ignoring their orders to drop the gun.

“Please don’t make me shoot you. Drop the gun.” they repeated several times. When the man was a few yards from the officers, they shot him down “to try to stop the threat”, said the police.

Even after being shot, the former footballer He continued to hold the gun, so officers allegedly used less lethal ammunition to knock it down. Since he didn’t, they shot him a second time and also used pepper balls and a dog to overpower him.

Following the incident, Udofia was transferred to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. For their part, the police reported that none of the four police officers involved was injured and assured that investigations into the shooting were continuing.

It should be noted that the former athlete had been arrested several times. According to court records, suffered from a mental disorder, a factor that contributed to his criminal activity, local media reported.

Public reaction

Udofia’s death has drawn attention to how people suffering from a mental health crisis can find themselves in dangerous encounters with the police. “Our medical community, our society in general, must take a step forward to do a better job and help people with mental problems”, said Andy Anderson, retired Phoenix Police Deputy Chief.

In addition, he explained that it is often only after the fact that officers find out if a person has a history of psychiatric disorders. “When someone has a gun in their hand, it is too late to involve a social worker”, added.

For its part, Robert Littal, editor and founder of the portal Black sports online, He criticized the police for their actions against the former footballer, who came from a Nigerian family in the city of Scottsdale.

“It looks to me like Odofia was suffering from an episode of mental illness, but if you point something at the police and you’re black they’ll shoot you,” said. “They won’t try to defuse the situation or try to figure out exactly what you have in hand,” gave its opinion and concluded that similar situations “they happen too often.”