A vigil for a gay rights activist at Georgia Tech escalated to violence on Monday night, leaving two police officers injured and a police car set ablaze. Three people were arrested as a result of the violence.
According to the Georgia Tech website, Georgia Tech Pride Alliance president Scout Schultz was shot by campus police on campus on Saturday. NBC News reports police received a 911 call at 11:17 PM claiming a man on campus was carrying a gun.
In the released audio recording of the call to police prior to the incident, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified Schultz as the man on the phone. Schultz, who chose to go by “they/them” pronouns, told police officers that there was a person armed with a knife and a gun on campus while describing his own appearance.
Schultz said, “Hey, I'm over at West Village. It looks like there's somebody like skulking around outside. It looks like he's got, he's got a knife in his hand. I think he might have a gun on his hip. It looks like he might be drunk or something.”
The video if the incident shows Schultz holding a knife and instructing police to shoot him. He can be heard yelling, “Shoot me!” while refusing to drop his weapon.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigations states Schultz left three suicide notes in his dorm room before he was killed.
Schultz’s parents said he had been suffering from depression and anxiety and had previously attempted suicide in the past. However, their lawyer, L. Chris Stewart, claimed police used excessive force when dealing with Schultz.
Police car on fire at #gatech protester threw flare in pic.twitter.com/MRuIzS70Y4
— Lisa Hagen (@TwitrHagen) September 19, 2017
Protesters of the police killing of queer activist Scout Schultz at Georgia Tech just torched a cop car. https://t.co/ZITbA4C2Gj
— Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) September 19, 2017
...and that came right after people started punching and attacking the Tech police. pic.twitter.com/UCa57JM2cD
— Stephen Fowler (@stphnfwlr) September 19, 2017
What appears to be a Georgia Tech officer was loaded into this ambulance. Apparent head injury. pic.twitter.com/dZjr30k6XA
— Justin Wilfon (@JustinWilfonWSB) September 19, 2017
Smoke bombs thrown at police/us, then the @georgiatech police car got torched with a flare under the hood... @NPR pic.twitter.com/ahqJYzu6R0
— Stephen Fowler (@stphnfwlr) September 19, 2017
AJC.com reports as a result of the protests, two police officers were injured. One of the officers was taken to the hospital and was released. Both of the officers are expected to make full recoveries.
Vincent Castillenti was charged with felony aggravated assault on an officer and willful obstruction of an officer by use of threats or violence. According to AJC.com, the arrest warrant claims Castillenti hit an officer in the head with a hammer and pepper sprayed the officer who was arrested him.
Jacob Wilson was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault against a police officer. The arrest warrant states Wilson hit an officer in the head with a can of spray paint, which he had been using to vandalize anti-police slogans nearby.
Cassandra Monden, who is Andrew Xavier Monden according to police records, was reportredly charged with “interference with government property, and inciting to rioting, which is a misdemeanor.” The arrest warrant reportedly says Monden tried to kick in a police car’s windshield.
(Image source: Fulton County Jail)
At 11:27 p.m. ET on Monday, Georgia Tech Police Department stated the campus was returning “back to normal.”
The officer involved in the shooting is currently on leave pending an investigation.
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