Fort Lauderdale Police Shoot & Beat Down Unarmed 15 Year Old Black Teen After Chase - Critical Condition

 

Police and family members searched for answers the day after an officer shot a 15-year-old whom he mistakenly thought was driving a stolen car.

A 15-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was shot by a Fort Lauderdale police officer during the pursuit of a vehicle thought to be stolen but later determined to be a different car.

Dwuan Crooms is connected to a ventilator at Broward General Medical Center. His uncle, a Plantation firefighter, said Crooms has a collapsed lung and kidney, liver damage and internal bleeding.

"We haven't really heard the whole story yet," uncle Shaun Sands said. "We've heard bits and pieces here and there." Crooms, a student at William Dandy Middle School, was shot on Interstate 95 late Friday night after what police said was a violent struggle with the teenager.

"There had been reports that the suspect was shot in the back and I must stress to you that this information is also inaccurate," Fort Lauderdale police Sgt. Frank Sousa said at a news conference. "At this point in the investigation, we can confirm that the shot entered the top of the suspect's shoulder area, not in the back."

Police said the chase began when they spotted a Pontiac that Crooms was driving on I-95. A vehicle matching its description had been stolen during an armed robbery.

Police said Crooms refused to stop and led officers on a 100 mph chase through Broward and Palm Beach counties. The chase ended when Crooms slammed into another vehicle and spun out of control, police said.

Crooms was shot and a 16-year-old passenger in the car was stunned with a Taser gun.

"They had to have every reason to believe in their mind that they were dealing with two armed individuals," Sousa said.

Police said the car Crooms was driving wasn't stolen. The vehicle in question was recovered about three hours after the shooting.

Whether the chase and shooting were justified is now the focus of an investigation.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is already under scrutiny for several other police-involved shootings. According to published reports, Fort Lauderdale police shot and killed four suspects last year.

"We just want to know what happened," Sands said. "Why is a 15-year-old kid laying up in a hospital bed?"

Sands said he didn't know why Crooms was behind the wheel of a vehicle when he isn't old enough to drive on his own. [MORE] and [MORE} and [MORE]

Comments

[Demetrius (bitch boy)]

I posted this at another story, but it applies here too:

When you publish these stories it just makes black male teenagers look STUPID!
(Maybe becaue most of them acually are as STUPID as I am - white caveboy)

I think publishing these stories is backfiring on you.

It does not engender sympathy to read about black male teens who fight with the police or who run from the police and who then suffer the obvious consequences.

No sympathy for the perp. He must be really stupid.

Advice to black male teenagers: Think before you decide to fight with or run from the police, especially if you are a supposedly "innocent" black male teenager. Because in this country anyone who runs MUST be put to death or get seriously beat down.

Smart people know that fighting with or running from the police can easily get you shot.

Smart people also know that fighting with or running from the police makes you look guilty.

Non-black Americans of all other races are getting sick of all your stupid "blackxcuses".

Take some responsibility for your own stupid actions!!!!!! I do. I am a pure redneck simpleton, dumb as f***, still walking around on all fours, living in a cave.

[Awake in Fort Lauderdale]

The police are only allowed to use deadly force to save a life that's in danger at that very moment, period.
Just ask all the ex-cops who are now in prison for breaking that lil rule.

[Josh]

Who cares

[Andre]

Public safety for American civilians has become more of a threat these days and not only by international terrorists and national criminals, but at the hands of law enforcement officials. These are people who vowed to protect and serve our communities.
The increase of excessive force by police officers violates human right laws. It may be me today, but it could be you tomorrow. Become proactive in the struggle against unjustified brutal abuse on American people.

Together let's put an end to police brutality!
Visit my website to see how (encourage your family and friends to sign as well):


http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/ProtectionInGivingService

[Andrew's grandmother]

My grandson,Andrew, right now is being held in the Fort Lauderdale jail under false chargers. They put his bail at one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. Who can come up with that? I FEAR FOR HIS LIFE. HE HAS NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE. THESE POLICE WHO GET PAID FOR UPHOLDING THE LAW ARE THE BIGGEST BREAKERS AND LIERS AND DO ALLL THEY CAN TO HARM THE INNOCENT THE PEOPLE THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO PROTECT.
aNDREW WENT DOWN THERE TO GO TO COLLEGE.THE ONE HE WAS STAYING WITH LEFT AND WHEN TO PR,LEAVING HIM WITHOUT A PLACE TO STAY.ANDREW ENDED UP ON THE STREETS. HE HAS NO ONE DOWN THERE TO HELP.ALL HIS FAMILY IS IN MA. WE CAN NOT FIND ANYONE WHO IS WILLING TO HELP US UNLESS WE HAVE MONEY. IF THERE IS ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN OR KNOWS SOME THAT WILL PLEASE,PLEASE LET US KNOW.