MIAMI – Miami police identified a man shot and wounded by at least one of the department’s officers Thursday afternoon.
Medics rushed Donald Armstrong, 47, to Jackson Memorial Hospital following the police shooting and was in serious condition as of Friday evening.
Officer Kiara Delva, a Miami Police Department spokesperson, police responded to a home near the 5700 block of Northwest Seventh Court after receiving a call about a person who was possibly high on narcotics causing a disturbance.
Upon arrival, Delva said officers encountered Armstrong, described as an “aggressive subject,” who was armed with a sharp object, and refused to comply with officers’ commands.
Online records show Armstrong has served time in state prison on charges including burglary, aggravated assault with a weapon and battery on a pregnant victim.
Just before 3 p.m., cellphone video captured the moments when officers were met by three people on a front porch. One man wearing red pants and a white shirt was seen carrying a long object in one hand when he was tased multiple times.
The video shows Armstrong yelling “Shoot me in the heart” and “I am God!” before being hit a second time by a taser after charging at officers. Police said he refused to follow their commands and they were forced to shoot.
But neighbors and the man’s family are questioning the officer’s decision to open fire.
Local 10 News reporter Cody Weddle heard from Armstrong’s family Thursday night, who said they want a full investigation to be conducted and called the incident an “overreaction.”
In a message posted to social media, Friday Miami police Chief Manny Morales said, in part, “I pledge to ensure that our department does better in addressing calls involving mental and behavioral issues. I am asking all of us to pray for Mr. Armstrong and his family during this difficult time.”
University of Miami criminologist Alex Piquero said law enforcement officers face challenges approaching people suffering from mental health issues, saying “you don’t know what you don’t know.”
“Really capturing that part of (the) video, remember there’s an entire set of things that happened before the video turns on,” Piquero said. “They are trying to be as safe as possible for everybody around them. You’ve got to remember, this is not just the safety of the officers, it’s the safety of people around them, as well as the individual himself.”
Piquero said that’s why it’s going to be important for investigators to speak to witnesses and review body camera footage of the incident.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the police shooting as part of standard protocol.
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) March 8, 2024