An unarmed sixteen-year-old Detroit boy died Friday, officials say, after he fled during a traffic stop and was shocked by a police Taser gun in an abandoned house.
Warren Deputy Police Commissioner Jere Green is defending the use of force against the boy as “within policies and guidelines” and “appropriate” the Detroit News reports. Police learned after shocking the boy that he suffered from asthma and was taking anti-depressant drugs. His name has not yet been released.
This is the second Michigan teenager to die from Taser shocks in less than a month.
On March 22, Brett Elder, 15, of Bay City, died after police shocked him with a Taser gun while responding to a call about an unruly party.
The Bay City Times has called for an investigation of police Taser policies and has noted that police have used the weapon against individuals who pose no threat to officers.