Photo: Junfu Han / USA Today
DETROIT, October 5, 2022 ~ Detroit Police Chief James White has released body cam footage showing the incident that led to the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Porter Burks, a reportedly troubled man who was brandishing a knife and refusing to comply with officers’ orders.
“Without warning, Mr. Burks charged at one of our officers with the knife in his hand,“ Chief White told reporters. “The officer, fearing for his safety, and the other officers fearing for their partners’ safety, fired their weapons. Despite this horrific act, the officers were able to quickly transition to a first aid mode. The officers conveyed Mr. Burks to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.”
“This is a tragic situation. Anytime we use force is never a desired outcome. Anytime we use fatal force … it’s the worst outcome.”
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October 5, 2022 ~ 760 WJR Senior News Analyst Lloyd Jackson has the latest information for Paul W. on a fatal shooting involving several Detroit Police officers.
(CONTINUED) The release of the video came a day after five officers fired 38 rounds in three seconds, hitting the subject a reported 15 times and dropping him to the ground.
Burks is said to have suffered from schizophrenia and was apt to become violent. He was admitted earlier this year to Sinai-Grace Hospital‘s psychological ward, which he escaped from after two days. According to sources familiar with the escape, it took four officers and multiple taser deployments to take Mr. Burks into custody.
“This is a system that has failed Mr. Burks, and failed Mr. Burks’ family,” Chief White continued. “The mental health crisis in this city is very real.”
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