Rioters torched a police car at the Georgia Tech Police Department headquarters and fought with police Monday night in protest of a campus police shooting of a mentally ill student over the weekend.
A police car burns amid violent protests at Georgia Tech after a student was fatally shot by police over the weekend https://t.co/caajbEabGT pic.twitter.com/WsabgwOlBE
— CNN (@CNN) September 19, 2017
About 50 agitators marched to the police station and rioted after a vigil earlier in the night to remember Scout Schultz, who was killed by officers after calling the Georgia Tech campus police on himself Saturday night.
Schultz, who had a history of mental illness, reported that a suspicious person was loose on campus, describing the suspect as “a white male with long blond hair, white T-shirt & blue jeans who is possibly intoxicated, holding a knife and possibly armed with a gun on his hip,” according to a statement from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Protests erupted on the Georgia Tech campus around the time of a vigil for a student who was fatally shot by police https://t.co/IjRLIdLxaO pic.twitter.com/FTaCQyWP1p
— CNN (@CNN) September 19, 2017
When police arrived on the scene, Schultz was walking around in a disoriented and unpredictable manner. Police shouted at him repeatedly to drop his knife.
“No one wants to hurt you, man,” said one of the officers.
But Shultz kept walking toward them and the police opened fire. A multi-tool with a knife was recovered from the scene. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Schultz left three suicide notes behind in a dormitory room. The 21-year-old Schultz identified as neither male or female and led the university’s Pride Alliance.
As the protest turned violent, Georgia Tech tweeted that students should seek shelter.
GTENS ALERT: Stay inside due to violent protests on campus. Avoid Hemphill Avenue. Stay inside until told otherwise.
— Georgia Tech (@GeorgiaTech) September 19, 2017
GTENS ALERT: Seek shelter in a secure location until further notice. Lock all doors and windows. Take Immediate Action Now!
— Georgia Tech (@GeorgiaTech) September 19, 2017
Atlanta Police were called in to help Georgia Tech police take control of the situation.
Via AJC.com:
Chad Miller, a Tech alumnus taking part in the march, said he thought tear gas had been deployed. He said he was right behind the police car when it erupted into flames.
“All I heard was metal hitting metal,” Miller said. “I’m guessing it was fireworks, there were some pretty powerful ones.”
“I was marching with them until they got in front of the police station and then all hell broke loose.”
Miller said he saw one man who may have been a police officer throwing up and coughing.
A lawyer for the family said Schultz had a utility tool and the blade wasn’t out. They have questioned why police didn’t use non-lethal force.
Schultz was the head of the Georgia Pride Alliance, which had helped organize Monday night’s vigil. The group advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual individuals.
Rioters violently clashed with police as they tried to restore order. Antifa was present and probably behind much of the violence.
"Fight Back" Antifa banner seen at Georgia Tech https://t.co/gumMLnMeAO pic.twitter.com/8EqhLMft3Z
— Nick Short 🇺🇸 (@PoliticalShort) September 19, 2017
Ask yourself as you watch these videos if we’re living through an epidemic of SJW-infused mental illness on college campuses.
https://twitter.com/BasedMonitored/status/909965502830796800
Most of the rioters dispersed after the fire, according to ACJ.com.
Three people were arrested and charged with inciting a riot and battery of an officer. They were identified by authorities as Vincent Castillenti, Jacob Wilson, and Cassandra Monden. It was not immediately clear if they were students at Tech.
Georgia Tech police gave the all clear signal via Twitter late in the evening to let the students know it was safe to go outside again.
GTENS All Clear. At this time the campus has been cleared of any threats. You may resume normal activities.
— GTPDalerts (@GTPDalerts) September 19, 2017
We're returning our campus back to normal. Expect additional patrols throughout campus tonight. Let us know if you see anything suspicious.
— GTPDalerts (@GTPDalerts) September 19, 2017
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