A Miami man is facing charges after a confrontation with police left him hospitalized from a gunshot wound. Donald Lenard Armstrong, 47, was shot by officers outside a home in Model City on the evening of March 7, according to police and a WSVN report.
Armstrong's mother had called 911, requesting police assistance and citing her son was experiencing a behavioral episode, possibly influenced by narcotics. When law enforcement arrived at the Northwest 7th Court residence, they encountered Armstrong wielding what was described as a long sharp object. Miami Police claim he acted aggressively, prompting them to open fire after he allegedly lunged at them, as stated in an arrest report obtained by NBC Miami.
Despite being struck multiple times by gunfire, Armstrong faces aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence charges. He remains at Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition as of the latest reports. Armstrong's bond has not been set for the assault charge; however, a $500 bond is in place for the resisting charge.
The shooting, caught on police body cams and a witness's cell phone, also shed light on the desperate pleas from Armstrong's mother, "Don't kill my child," Denise Armstrong recounted in her interview with NBC6. Community leaders and organizations are advocating for reforms and the implementation of non-police crisis intervention teams, following this incident. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an external investigation into the shooting, and Miami Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division also reviews the case.
Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales expressed his commitment to transparency and community accountability following the tumultuous event. He emphasized the importance of communication and promised a thorough internal investigation in addition to the state's external review. "We are already in the process of our internal investigation regarding all actions taken," Morales said, in a statement referenced by NBC Miami. "I pledge to ensure that our department does better in addressing calls involving mental and behavioral issues." Morales called for the community's prayers for Armstrong and his family during these challenging times.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups like the Healing and Justice Center are promoting a community-based method for handling mental health crises. Rachel Gilmer, Director of the Healing and Justice Center, highlighted the need for change. "Police are socialized to see every call as a potential threat. When they are called to the scene, they treat it as law enforcement officials, not as mental health experts," she expressed in a news release quoted by WSVN. The group is already active in the community, performing wellness checks and providing emotional support to residents of Armstrong's neighborhood.
For those experiencing a mental health crisis, alternative helplines such as the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-866-SAFEMIA are available as immediate resources for support.
