Less than 10 seconds after officers opened the door, police shot Yong Yang in his parents’ Koreatown home while he was holding a knife during a bipolar episode.

Parents in Los Angeles’ Koreatown called for mental health help in the middle of their son’s bipolar episode this month. Clinical personnel showed up — and so did police shortly after.

Police fatally shot Yong Yang, 40, who had a knife in his hand, less than 10 seconds after officers opened the door to his parents’ apartment where he had locked himself in, newly released bodycam video shows.

Now the parents of Yang, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder around 15 years ago, have told NBC News exclusively that they are disputing part of the account captured on bodycam, in which police recount a clinician’s saying Yang was violent before the shooting on May 2.

  • madcaesar@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    They are insecure, poorly educated bullies. Everything makes sense once you realize this about police in the US.

    In my town having gone and served in Afghanistan basically allowed you to become a cop once you returned states side. No degree or special training needed.

    • JonEFive
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      7 months ago

      TBF, I’d rather a soldier show up at my door than a cop. At least soldiers are usually better trained in discipline, situational awareness, and appropriately evaluating threats. They are also trained on rules of engagement and usually aren’t terrified about every single engagement they find themselves in.

      Maybe our police would be better if they received the same level of training as soldiers. And maybe that’s it. Soldiers are more confident in their abilities because they’ve received adequate training.

      • madcaesar@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Dude a soldier in this case is a 20 year old grunt that joined at 18. You’re not getting 30 year old officers joining the cop force.