MIAMI – Miami-Dade prosecutors announced Thursday that they will not pursue charges against Donald Armstrong, who authorities said was tased and shot by Miami police officers back in March.
The decision followed a hearing Thursday morning regarding the incident that began when officers responded to a distress call from Armstrong’s mother at their Liberty City home near Northwest Seventh Court on March 7.
Officer Kiara Delva, a spokesperson for the Miami Police Department, said officers arrived at the 5700 block of Northwest Seventh Court after receiving a report of a person possibly high on narcotics causing a disturbance.
Cellphone video obtained by Local 10 News back in March showed Armstrong, 47, 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.
Investigators said Armstrong was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in serious condition following the incident but survived.
Armstrong was initially facing charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence following the encounter.
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.
Miami police internal affairs is continuing to investigate the shooting. Armstrong is being represented by renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has filed a notice to sue the department.