Mentally Ill Black Man Shot & Killed by Shelby Police

A Shelby police officer shot a man Wednesday afternoon during a struggle to take the man to a mental health facility. Shelby police officer Sean Mowery shot Milton Gaines, known as "Karate Man," who was then transported to Cleveland Regional Medical Center. Some witnesses said Gaines was shot in the torso, although Shelby Police Chief Tandy Carter could not confirm that Wednesday evening. "The officer was defending himself," Carter said at the scene near the intersection of Logan and Crawford streets. "If you feel your life is threatened, you can use deadly force. That's why we carry guns." Gaines had been in and out of mental health facilities, neighbors said. They said he lived alone and they didn't consider him a threat. He walked along the street talking about religion, they said. About 4:20 p.m., Mowery arrived at Gaines' home at 505 Crawford St., a few blocks east of Cleveland Regional Medical Center, to serve involuntary commitment papers that would force Gaines to undergo psychiatric treatment. Gaines became combative and Mowery called for backup, Carter said. The two got into a struggle and Mowery defended himself by shooting Gaines, Carter said. Gaines lives alone and most mornings can be seen performing T'ai Chi, a form of martial arts, in his front yard, neighbors said. "He doesn't bother anybody," Torie Woods, a neighbor, said. "He walks around and talks to anybody. There was no need to shoot him." Dozens of Shelby police officers, Cleveland County Sheriff's Office deputies and emergency medical services workers raced to the scene. A crowd gathered and watched as ambulances carried Mowery and Gaines away. [more]