Body camera footage has been released, revealing the events leading up to a fatal officer-involved shooting in Huntington, West Virginia. The incident occurred on July 3rd at approximately 1:40 PM, after a 911 call reported a man threatening to shoot people and detonate explosives inside a house.
Huntington Police Department patrol car
Huntington Police officers responded to the call and encountered 25-year-old Ahmad Abdullah outside the residence. The bodycam video shows an officer repeatedly instructing Abdullah to remove his hand from his pocket, but Abdullah refuses to comply.
“Hey, let me see your hands, let me see your hands, let me see your hands,” the officer can be heard saying. “Huntington Police, let me take your hand out of your pocket right now.”
Police officer talking to a man
The officer continues to plead with Abdullah for nearly a minute, requesting cooperation and attempting to de-escalate the situation.
“Hey, listen man, throw me a couple more units over here,” the officer says into his radio. “He said he’s got a gun, he’s got his hand in his pocket, won’t show me his hands.”
Abdullah refuses to comply with the officer’s commands, escalating the tension. He can be heard making threats, stating his intention to “set something on fire.”
“Hey, man, don’t do it,” the officer says. “Hey, look back up, bro, let me see that hand.”
Police officer with his gun drawn
Abdullah’s threats become more direct, and he states that he will shoot the officer.
“Hey, look, I’m about to say— hey, bro, you got five seconds, come on, man, put that down, talk to me,” the officer pleads.
“Hey, it’s your call, I ain’t going anywhere,” the officer says. “Hey, listen— hey, it’s your call.”
Within seconds, a struggle ensues, and the officer discharges his weapon.
“Hey, your call, hey let’s do it, let’s do it, let’s do it, let’s do it,” Abdullah can be heard saying just before the shooting.
“Hey, stop, stop, stop.”
Abdullah was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The officer involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave, a standard procedure in officer-involved shootings, but has since returned to active duty.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
