Harrowing bodycam footage shows cops chasing and shooting an autistic boy, 13, multiple times after they responded to a call to 'de-escalate' his mental breakdown

 Police have released harrowing footage of the moment a 13-year-old boy was chased by cops and then shot multiple times. 

Bodycam video shows officers pursuing Linden Cameron down an alley and yelling at him to get on the ground after his mother, Golda Barton, called cops to help 'de-escalate' the teenager's mental breakdown.

Linden, from Salt Lake City in Utah, collapsed after a series of shots were fired, moaning, 'I don't feel good. I don't feel good.' 

He survived but suffered broken bones and pierced organs, the family's attorney has said. He will likely be injured for life, the attorney added.

Linden Cameron: Bodycam shows moment of shooting by Utah police
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Linden Cameron, who remains in hospital, suffered injuries to his shoulders, both ankles, intestines and bladder after he was shot by police in Salt Lake City

Linden Cameron, who remains in hospital, suffered injuries to his shoulders, both ankles, intestines and bladder after he was shot by police in Salt Lake City

But bodycam footage shows the officers chasing him down an alley after they arrive at his home, then yelling at him to get on the ground

But bodycam footage shows the officers chasing him down an alley after they arrive at his home, then yelling at him to get on the ground

Linden's mother, Golda Barton, called the police to help him to hospital to receive mental health treatment

Linden's mother, Golda Barton, called the police to help him to hospital to receive mental health treatment


Police also released a 911 call that mother Golda Barton placed before the shooting, when she warned that he had previously been in a chase and shootout with police.

Asked whether he has access to a firearm currently, she answered: 'I don't believe he does, but I just found out that... he showed one of my workers a prop gun, or a BB gun or a pellet gun. It wasn't a big weapon.'

She can also be heard warning the dispatcher that her son 'does not like cops' because they shot and killed her father within the last year.

'He sees the badge and he automatically thinks you are going to kill him or he has to defend himself in some way,' she said. 'He freaks out.' 

She adds: 'We need a mental health worker, it's super important.' 

Officers said they would have to proceed as though the boy did have access to a real gun, the videos show. Barton told officers the boy was 'triggered' by seeing police.

The video was made public under a Salt Lake City ordinance requiring the release of video from police shootings within 10 business days.

Officers said they would have to proceed as though the boy did have access to a real gun, the videos show

Officers said they would have to proceed as though the boy did have access to a real gun, the videos show

Footage shows the officers start to run after the boy - yelling at him to stop and get on the ground

Footage shows the officers start to run after the boy - yelling at him to stop and get on the ground

The shooting has raised new questions about how police deal with people with mental health issues amid nationwide calls for police reform

The shooting has raised new questions about how police deal with people with mental health issues amid nationwide calls for police reform

The shooting has raised new questions about how police deal with people with mental health issues amid nationwide calls for police reform. 

It came hours before new deescalation tactics were due to take effect for Salt Lake City police, which is also cooperating with an independent investigation of the shooting.

In one video, two officers can be heard discussing whether or not to approach the boy because they were concerned that the incident would result in a shooting.

'Especially when he hates cops, it's probably gonna end in a shooting,' one officer said.

Barton has said she told dispatchers her son (pictured in hospital) was having a breakdown and she needed help from a crisis-intervention officer

Barton has said she told dispatchers her son (pictured in hospital) was having a breakdown and she needed help from a crisis-intervention officer 

His mother Golda (pictured) said through tears that her son was 'scared' when authorities arrived to their home

His mother Golda (pictured) said through tears that her son was 'scared' when authorities arrived to their home

The videos don't seem to show the boy holding any weapon and police don't mention any in a report also released Monday

The videos don't seem to show the boy holding any weapon and police don't mention any in a report also released Monday 

As officers approach the house, one says he can see movement in the backyard. The officers start to run after the boy - yelling at him to stop and get on the ground. When they catch up to the boy, they ask him to get on the ground again.

The boy ignores their commands and continues walking before a series of shots ring out.

The videos don't seem to show the boy holding any weapon and police don't mention any in a report also released Monday.

Barton has said she told dispatchers her son was having a breakdown and she needed help from a crisis-intervention officer.

On the 911 call recording, she said she has called the cops before on her son and that he has previously run away from officers.

'My biggest fear is that, I don't know I just don't want him to die,' Barton said. 'But the times they´ve came he has been gone like he´ll take off and go running. That's why I don't want to go there...I just don't want to alarm him.'

She added: 'That's why we need a mental health worker,' she said. 'It's super important.'

The Salt Lake City officers who arrived had some mental-health training but were not specialists in crisis intervention.

Linden 'was lucky to be alive,' his attorney Zach Weyher said.

The Salt Lake City officers who arrived had some mental-health training but were not specialists in crisis intervention

The Salt Lake City officers who arrived had some mental-health training but were not specialists in crisis intervention

Linden's brother, Wesley (pictured), also spoke out about his sibling's injuries. 'He said he can't feel any feeling in his left hand,' Wesley said. 'So now we'll never be able to do the things we used to do, like longboard and play video games together'

Linden's brother, Wesley (pictured), also spoke out about his sibling's injuries. 'He said he can't feel any feeling in his left hand,' Wesley said. 'So now we'll never be able to do the things we used to do, like longboard and play video games together'

Two weeks later, he remains hospitalized.

'Whatever happened, it was a 13-year-old boy who was unarmed. The police were called for a mental-health call, not a criminal act,' Weyher said. 'A child is laying in a hospital bed ... there has to be a better response.'

The mayor of Salt Lake City, Erin Mendenhall, said at a news conference Monday that as a mother of a 14-year-old boy she was profoundly upset by the shooting. She called for a quick but thorough investigation about what happened.

'I am profoundly heartbroken and frustrated,' she said. 'It´s a tragedy for this young boy, for his mother and for families and individuals who have acute mental health needs.'

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall (pictured) said at a news conference Monday that as a mother of a 14-year-old boy she was profoundly upset by the shooting

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall (pictured) said at a news conference Monday that as a mother of a 14-year-old boy she was profoundly upset by the shooting

The shooting comes amid nationwide calls for police reform in the wake of the death of George Floyd, who was killed during an arrest in Minneapolis.

A demand of some protest groups has been 'defunding' police departments.

Advocates argue that police forces should focus on preventing an solving violent crimes instead of being asked to take on roles that officers are often not suited for.

Money that is currently used to fund police programs not aimed at violence offences should be moved to community support and mental health services, they argue.

The policy has caught some traction, with Minneapolis - the city where Floyd was killed - in the process of disbanding its police force and building a replacement.

Harrowing bodycam footage shows cops chasing and shooting an autistic boy, 13, multiple times after they responded to a call to 'de-escalate' his mental breakdown Harrowing bodycam footage shows cops chasing and shooting an autistic boy, 13, multiple times after they responded to a call to 'de-escalate' his mental breakdown Reviewed by Your Destination on September 22, 2020 Rating: 5

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