In another worrying story of deaf people in America being killed or injured by police who may not have been aware of their deafness, a story has been reported in Oklahoma of a deaf man who was shot dead – despite his neighbours’ shouting to police that he was deaf.
A deaf man carrying a metal pipe was fatally shot by Oklahoma City police on Tuesday night as neighbors frantically tried to tell officers that he couldn’t hear their commands.
Magdiel Sanchez, 35, was shot and Tasered on a porch on Tuesday around 8:15 p.m. after he allegedly advanced toward officers following a hit-and-run involving his father, Police Capt. Bo Mathews said Wednesday.
The story says that the deaf man was carrying an iron bar, which the police saw as being a potential weapon (while neighbours said he often used this to fend off stray dogs).
When the deaf man did not respond to the police’s instructions, and approached them, he was both tasered and shot.
The case is now being investigated as a homicide.
Read the full story here: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/deaf-man-shot-dead-oklahoma-city-police-neighbors-scream-horror-n803031
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Marika Rebicsek
September 21, 2017
So very sad over this, thought it would happen one day but this is lack of deaf awareness in extremes and neighbours shouting he was deaf being ignored by trigger happy police is the worst thing possible
pennybsl
September 21, 2017
Imagine how it must be for the Deaf Community and deaf individuals in the state.
Sobering and tragic.
We sincerely, fervently hope this would not happen in the UK.
Marjorie Chin
September 21, 2017
Maybe it was not right for the deaf person to approach police with a metal pipe but why shoot the deaf person.
literaryeyes
September 22, 2017
I don’t know what happened to sensitivity training. The police seemed geared toward military responses now.