The images are shocking.
As he refused to stop at the behest of a police officer, a man in a motorized wheelchair, armed with a knife, was shot nine times at the entrance of a Walmart in the city of Tucson in the USA.
The officer, who was not on duty that evening but was to act as a guard in the store, was warned by an employee that the victim was suspected of having stolen a toolbox.
“According to the employee, he caught up with Mr. Richards outside as he was on the run and asked for the receipt for the toolbox.
Instead of handing over the ticket, Mr. Richards pulled out a knife and said, 'Here is your ticket,' ”said Chris Magnus, the town's police chief.
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In footage captured by another officer's pedestrian camera and released to the public by the Tucson Police Chief, Officer Ryan Remington can be heard repeatedly asking the disabled individual to stop.
Faced with the latter's refusal, he fired.
The victim's behavior "left him no other choice" than to use his weapon, explained his lawyer to the New York Times.
"I am deeply disturbed by the actions of Officer Remington The fatal use he made of force during this incident is a clear violation of the rules of our service", responded Chris Magnus on the occasion of a press conference the day after the events.
The Tucson police chief also announced that a dismissal procedure had been initiated against the officer.
