US Police Shoot Dozens of Times at 20s Schizophrenia Patient Jo Hyun-byeong... Criticism of 'Excessive Force' Continues

Schizophrenia Patient Roaming Streets with 20cm Knife
Five Police Officers Open Fire... Patient Eventually Dies

An incident occurred in the United States where police shot a patient with schizophrenia dozens of times, resulting in death, drawing criticism for excessive force. The photo shows a police SWAT vehicle in front of the U.S. District Court in Detroit and is unrelated to the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Bora Lee] A controversy has erupted after police in Detroit, USA, shot and killed a 20-year-old schizophrenia patient armed with a weapon more than several dozen times.

According to local US media on the 4th (local time), police responded to a report from a family living in an apartment in western Detroit around 5 a.m. on the 2nd, stating that "Porter Bucks (20), a family member suffering from schizophrenia, is holding a knife and not letting go." Bucks was shot more than 30 times and killed.

At the time, Bucks was wandering the street holding a 20 cm long knife, and the police tried to persuade him, saying, "We are here to help you. Put down the weapon." However, Bucks refused the police orders and suddenly charged at the officers.

In response, five police officers fired 38 shots at Bucks over three seconds. Bucks was immediately transported to the hospital but eventually died. It is reported that more than 12 gunshot wounds were found on his body.

The family’s lawyer stated that Bucks did not attack his family and criticized, "Bucks' parents sought police help to protect their son, whose schizophrenia symptoms had worsened, and to prevent danger, but ended up losing their son. We cannot understand why the police fired more than 30 shots at a citizen with a mental illness."

His brother, Damon Anderson, also raised his voice, calling it excessive force, saying, "All we wanted was for him to receive mental treatment again."

James White, Chief of the Detroit Police Department, held a press conference on the 4th and acknowledged that "police officers shot and killed Bucks" and admitted that the officers' response was excessive. He explained, "Bucks did not comply with the police order to 'drop the weapon' and was seen as resisting. The officers initially used a Taser, but after Bucks, who was hit by the Taser, tried to attack the officers, they fired their guns."

As the controversy grew, the Detroit Police announced that four officers involved at the scene have been placed on administrative leave and that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Bucks, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, is known to have stabbed people twice with a weapon in 2020 and had previously been admitted to a psychiatric ward but escaped after two days.