Ryan Gainer, a teenager with autism, was experiencing a mental health episode on the evening of Sunday, March 9. Gainer’s family called 911 at 4:48 pm and requested help after he damaged property and assaulted his sibling. Approximately six minutes later, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department arrived at the Gainer family home in Apple Valley, California.
Initial Family Altercation
Gainer had wanted to listen to music on his laptop, DeWitt Lacy attorney for the family told CNN. The family asked the teen to complete his chores first. Gainer then began to act out which is common for autistic children when they start to feel frustrated. Lacy also said the family had called for assistance regarding their son in the past.
The 15-year-old then hit his sister and grabbed a gardening tool, which he used to break the glass on the home’s front door. Before the police arrived, Gainer had reportedly calmed down. A cousin of Gainer, who was present at the time, called 911 again to inform them that authorities were no longer needed. However, deputies had already been dispatched.
The Shooting
When the three officers arrived, they approached the home and can be heard in the body cam footage asking, “Where’s he at?”
That’s when the teen rounded the corner, holding the same gardening tool he had used to break the glass. The tool appeared to be either a shovel or a hoe.
One deputy immediately pulled out his gun and started shouting at Gainer, “Get back, you’re going to get shot.” Gainer ran out of the house towards the officer as the officer began to retreat. That’s when at least two deputies fired their weapons, shooting at Gainer three times.
A woman can be heard asking the officers, “Why did you shoot my baby?”
Another family member asked why they had used a gun instead of a taser. It’s unclear whether the initial 911 call informed dispatchers about Gainer’s autism or if the responding deputies were aware of the previous calls to the house.
A summary report from the sheriff’s department says the officers administered aid to Gainer before the arrival of paramedics. Medics then transported him to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Response from Officials
Sheriff-Coroner for San Bernardino County Shannon Dicus released a statement the day after the fatal shooting.
“Our safety net for those experiencing mental illness needs to be strengthened. Our deputies handle seemingly insurmountable calls daily. Most of these calls do not end in violence. However, this one ended in tragedy for Ryan, his family, and for the deputies who responded. Rapidly evolving, violent encounters are some of the most difficult, requiring split-second decisions. While these decisions are lawful, they are awful in terms of humanity. I feel for both Ryan’s family and my deputies who will struggle with this for their entire lives.”
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The sheriff’s department maintains that the deputies followed protocol but have initiated an internal investigation. The California Department of Justice is performing an investigation as well.
From Those Who Knew Ryan Gainer
In a video shared to TikTok in September of last year, Ryan Gainer is interviewed by one of his classmates. Gainer says lightheartedly, “To all the viewers: make sure you have a great day, be the spark, and make sure to spread kindness.” The friend who shared the video said in a later post, “He was one of my friends from school that I’ve known for seven years. We were close and would text almost every day.”
Neighbors spoke to Fox 11 News, saying, “It’s still kind of a shock, just because he was such a little kid.” The neighbor continued by saying he was quiet but friendly. “He would wave. He would talk to me every once in a while, he would talk to my daughter.”
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