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Video Shows Police Officers Shooting Man in Wheelchair

The officers claim the man had a gun, which they later recovered from the scene, but the mother of the dead man disputes the official account.
Screenshot via YouTube

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Delaware authorities are investigating a video showing cops firing multiple shots at a man in a wheelchair.

The footage captured on cell phone camera by a witness begins shortly after the Wilmington police officers arrive at the scene, and one of them starts yelling at the wheelchair-bound man to "show me your hands!" and tells the man to drop his gun.

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A single shot can be heard in the video as officers continue to shout at 28-year-old Jeremy McDole to raise his hands. It is not clear from the footage the origin of the bullet, or whether the man was armed with a gun.

Police said that multiple officers responded to the scene Wednesday after receiving reports McDole had shot himself. Officers recovered a .38-caliber handgun they found beside the man, police claim.

McDole's mother, Phyllis, has disputed this version of events at a press conference and said that her son did not have a gun and would never hurt himself. He has apparently been in the wheelchair since he was 18 following a shooting incident.

The video shows McDole attempting to stand up from the chair at one point and moves his hands on his lap, and possibly into his pocket, which is when police open fire on him. The force of the bullets pushes the wheelchair backward.

"This was murder," Phyllis McDole said. "He shot my son like he was roadkill."

Wilmington Police Chief Bobby Cummings and Mayor Dennis Williams released statements about the incident Thursday afternoon.

"I'm sorry for the officers and family of Jeremy McDole, as this encounter unfortunately ended with the loss of his life," Cummings said in one statement. "I know that this incident could impact police and community relations, therefore, I will ensure a thorough and transparent investigation will be conducted."

An investigation is ongoing, while the four officers involved in the fatal shooting are now on administrative leave, said Williams.

Related: Video Shows Cops Pulling Guns on Indiana Couple Driving to Hospital to Give Birth

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