‘Like cowboys from a John Wayne film’: Suicidal South Carolina man, 29, who survived being shot NINE TIMES by cops who fired 50 rounds at him and his mother sues cops who says they opened fire because he had a shotgun
- Trevor Mullinax, 29, is suing officers for ‘excessive use of deadly force’
- Mullinax, who has previously been arrested for burglary and domestic violence, claims he was suffering a mental health breakdown
- Police claim the man put officers in danger after he pulled a shotgun
A suicidal South Carolina man who survived being shot by cops nine times is suing the officers for ‘excessive use of deadly force.’
Trevor Mullinax, 29, who has previously been arrested for crimes including burglary and domestic violence, claims he was sitting in his pickup truck talking to his mother when police descended on them ‘like cowboys from a John Wayne movie.’
The York County Sheriff’s Office contest the claims, and say ‘Mr. Mullinax chose to put these men in danger by pulling a shotgun.’
Mullinax, who lives in Rock Hill, South Carolina, alleges in the lawsuit the officers drew their guns and resorted ‘to using deadly force, immediately, without attempting to deescalate the situation.’
Deputies are seen getting out of the police vehicles and shouting: ‘Let me see your hands’
One is seen reloading before firing into the vehicle as Mullinax’s mother ducks for cover in long grass to the side
Police bodycam footage of the incident, which took place in May 2021, shows Mullinax inside the pickup truck on his family’s land, with his mother Tammy Beason outside the vehicle near the driver’s window.
Deputies are seen getting out of the police vehicles and shouting: ‘Let me see your hands’.
Moments later they begin to shoot at the vehicle, breaking the windscreen glass as Beason, 48, ducks and runs to take cover in the nearby shrubbery.
After 50 shots were fired, Beason’s distressed screaming can be heard from the pick-up.
Mullinax admitted he did have a shotgun in the truck, but denies pointing it at himself or the cops.
Instead he raised his hands and was complying with the deputies’ orders, his lawyers insist.
The shootout continues from another officer’s bodycam, showing them surrounding the bullet-ridden pick-up truck
Trevor Mullinax, 29, survived being shot by sheriff’s deputies nine times, with him pictured above in his hospital bed
‘There was a round that hit him smack dab in the middle of the back of his head,’ Mullinax’s lawyer, Justin Bamberg, told a news conference attended by Beason on Tuesday.
‘Never seen anybody get shot in the back of the head who’s a threat to law enforcement or anybody else.’
Mullinax told reporters he was experiencing a mental health crisis and the police were involved after he battered his girlfriend’s door in several days before the shooting.
A call was placed to the sheriff’s department requesting a ‘wellness check’ on Mullinax, the complaint states.
A team of deputies went to the family’s property and were directed to the scene by Mullinax’s grandfather where his grandson was parked and talking to his mother, the suit states.
Mullinax is pictured during a press conference following the violent shootout at his family home
‘There was a round that hit him smack dab in the middle of the back of his head,’ Mullinax’s lawyer, Justin Bamberg, told a news conference attended by mother Tammy Beason (pictured) on Tuesday
‘Prior to arriving at the location on the property where Plaintiff Mullinax was still sitting inside his pickup truck, Sheriff’s deputies drew their firearms and were prepared to shoot Plaintiff Mullinax and exercise deadly force before they made verbal contact with him,’ the court papers say.
‘Trevor was just in a really dark place,’ his lawyer told reporters, ‘and had been contemplating suicide.’
‘May is Mental Health Awareness Month,’ Mullinax added. ‘I hate that I have to be the face of it this month. But if it helps even one single person in this world to not have to go through what me and my family have, I’m OK with it.’
York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said in a statement: ‘Mr Mullinax chose to put these men in danger by pulling a shotgun.
‘These deputies responded appropriately to the threat as they were trained to do.’
‘Had Mr. Mullinax made different choices that day, deputies would not have been required to use force.’
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