Shooting Ruled Justified; Teen Said He Wanted To Die By Cop

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — In a report issued Monday, Pinellas-Pasco County State Attorney Bruce Bartlett said his office has concluded Tarpon Springs police were justified when they shot and killed a 17-year-old who pointed a realistic-looking Airsoft rifle at them.

At 9:27 p.m. Oct. 16, witnesses said they saw 17-year-old Alexander Christian King holding what they believed to be a real firearm on Pinellas Avenue.

Witnesses said he was yelling, "I'm going to shoot you."

The witnesses ducked into the Spartan Gas Station and called 911. Police arrived at 10:50 p.m. and found King at the intersection of Pinellas and Tarpon avenues in front of the Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce, pointing the rifle toward the intersection.

King pointed the gun at one of the arriving officers, who took cover behind his police vehicle.

The officer said King was yelling, "Shoot me, shoot me," while continuing to point the gun at him. The officer repeatedly told him to drop the rifle but King ignored his orders.

Two more officers arrived and took cover, ordering King to put down the "rifle."

The officers attempted to approach King, and he pointed the gun at them. They shot him four times. He was transported to Bayfront Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Bartlett said his office interviewed 10 witnesses, as well as associate medical examiner Dr. Wayne Kurz, reviewed photos, 911 calls, cell phone video, body cameras worn by officers and autopsy photos.

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They also looked at King's medical history. He had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had been hospitalized under the Baker Act seven times in the past five years for injuring and threatening to injure himself.

He also had gotten into fights with other students, school employees and school resource officers. In 2017, he kicked and choked a school employee.

In 2019, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office conducted a threat assessment on King. At that time, he said he wanted to commit suicide by cop. He was removed from East Lake High School and offered mental health counseling.

Later that year, he threatened police with knives during a domestic call.

His sister said he was upset and angry the night he was killed because she wouldn't let him stay at her house for the night. Holding a knife, he threatened to kill himself. He them picked up the Airsoft rifle and left the house just before 9:30 p.m. His sister said she didn't call police because she knew he couldn't harm himself with the Airsoft rifle.

Bartlett noted that the Airsoft rifle had all the appearance of a real weapon with a metal barrel, faux wood stock and firing mechanism.

The only thing setting it apart from the real thing was a faded orange tip that the officers couldn't see at night from a distance.

See related stories:

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• Man Fatally Shot By Police After Pointing Rifle At Drivers