'I was thinking as long as I have my hands up ... they're not going to shoot me.' Police fire shots at unarmed black therapist as he lies on the ground asking not to be shot

'The shooting officer said he didn't know why he shot him.'

Behavioral therapist Charles Kinsey was attempting to calm his autistic patient, who had run away from a group home, when officers arrived on the scene and shot him.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to WSVN, officers in North Miami responded to a report of a man who appeared to be holding a gun.

In a video recorded on a cell phone, Kinsey is clearly seen on his back, legs splayed and his hands in the air.

"All he has is a toy truck - a toy truck," Kinsey called to officers. "I am a behavior therapist at a group home."

In an attempt to keep the patient calm, Kinsey said, "Rinaldo, please be still. Sit down, Rinaldo. Lay on your stomach."

"Shut up," the 23-year-old yells at Kinsey as he sits and continues to play with his toy truck.

"Don't shoot me," Kinsey clearly asks officers.

No weapons were present and Kinsey calmly obeyed all orders but one officer still opened fire.

Three shots were fired and Kinsey was struck in the leg.

Many publications such at CNN have labeled the attack an accident, but with an increase in officers attacking members of the African-American community, the incident has many believing it is not likely a mistake.

John Rivera, president of the Police Benevolent Association in Dade County, told reporters Thursday the officer who fired believed Kinsey was in danger.

"It appeared to the officers that the white male was trying to do harm to Mr. Kinsey," Rivera announced. "In fearing for Mr. Kinsey's life, the officer discharged his firearm trying to save Mr. Kinsey's life and he missed."

The unidentified officer, described only as a 30-year-old Hispanic, was immediately placed on administrative leave pending investigation and may face charges.

The officer released a statement through the union in which he said: "I took this job to save lives and help people. I did what I had to do in a split second to accomplish that and hate to hear others paint me as something I'm not."

Though many are ready to believe the officer's statement, Kinsey claimed he asked why the officer shot him and the officer replied, "I don't know."

Hilton Napoleon, Kinsey's attorney, said the therapist also heard another officer ask why he fired.

"The shooting officer said he didn't know why he shot him," Napoleon stated. Another good question was why Kinsey was handcuffed after he was shot.

On Thursday, North Miami Police Chief Gary Eugene appeared for a news conference. He did not reveal which officers were involved and revealed few details.

"At my request, as of yesterday, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is taking over this investigation," Eugene stated. "The State Attorney's Office is also looking at the case."

The event prompted protestors to stand outside the North Miami Police Department to call for an end to officer violence against blacks.

According to Daily Mail, North Miami Congresswoman Frederica Wilson took the podium following Police Chief Eugene to say: "Police officers in this community, we know them, we trust them, this is like a nightmare to me.

"I'm just in shock. I'm stunned. The video is like a nightmare, I can't believe it."

In an attempt to soften the horrific reasoning the clueless officer seemed to follow, she implied he may have been suffering post-traumatic stress disorder: "A lot of police officers are suffering from PTSD. I can't even imagine what I saw today. We're pro-police, we love the police. But today I'm in shock, in total shock of what I saw."

Kinsey was released from the hospital Thursday and told the local news station he is still unable to understand why he was shot and cuffed.

"I was really more worried about him than myself," he explained of the male patient. "I was thinking as long as I have my hands up ... they're not going to shoot me. This is what I'm thinking, they're not gong to shoot me. Wow, was I wrong."

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