Boy, 10, who was out playing basketball is seen hiding from passing police car as they drive by

A young boy from Connecticut who was playing basketball in the driveway of his home was caught on camera hiding from a passing police car. 

The footage was captured by dad, Stacey Pierre-Louis, whose surveillance camera was monitoring the front yard of their home in the town of Trumbull. 

His son, Eliah, appeared to be happily shooting hoops through a basket hanging above the garage when something suddenly caught his eye. 

Eliah Pierre-Louis, 10, was shooting hoops in the front yard of his home

The ten-year-old quickly ran behind the family’s car which was parked in the front yard until the patrol car had passed. 

Almost as quickly as the boy ran to hide, he went back to happily dribbling in the driveway as the police continued their rounds.

In an Instagram post Pierre-Louis posted the video online with some thought-provoking insights.

‘Debated with myself for a few days before deciding to post this. I was at work watching my son shoot hoops in the driveway when I caught this. It floored me… I’ll save the dramatics, but growing up black or brown most of the time means fearing the police vs looking up to them. I live in an affluent neighborhood in Trumbull with a really good school system. This kid has all the opportunity to do/be whatever he wants unlike many kids who look like him because resources aren’t made available. Why does he feel like he has to hide when he isn’t doing anything wrong?’ the boy’s father wrote.

Suddenly, the youngster ran to hide behind a car in the driveway as a police car drove by

Eliah, pictured, told his dad that he kid from the police because ‘they killed George Floyd’

After returning from work, he asked him why he decided to run and hide.  

‘Because they killed George Floyd,’ the  youngster replied.

‘Stunned, I replied “ok kiddo'”, the dad wrote. 

‘I didn’t know what and still don’t know what to say to him to make it better. A manager at my job told me to tell him that doing what he did is ridiculous and that I should teach him not to be fearful of police. Deep down I don’t know if it’s true, maybe staying out of the way is best. 

‘He didn’t learn this behavior at home. We stream movies so he doesn’t see the news and we don’t talk negatively about police. No need to reply in the comments, but think to yourself. What would you say?’ 

Eliah stood absolutely still until the patrol car had driven out of sight

Dad, Stacey Pierre-Louis, pictured, was lost for words after his son’s candid reply

Since the video was posted it has been viewed more than 65,000 times and was even commented upon by LeBron James who tweeted: ”Breaks my Heart,’ after viewing the clip.

‘Since I’ve shared this video, I’ve been overwhelmed with support which leads me to believe that there is far more good in this world than there is bad,’ Pierre-Louis said to CBS News. ‘So it is our hope that this video can be used as a tool to help continue to bring us together in this fight and inspire change for the better.’  

‘Unfortunately this is the reality for millions of Black and minority children across this nation and the world,’ he said.  

‘My priority as a parent and family man is to protect my son and children from the atrocities and injustices of the world and provide them with the tools to be whole, productive and fearless contributing members of the world,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, in the state of times and for reasons we all see daily, it makes it difficult. But as many parents are doing, I can only continue to educate and prepare my son with the truth and arm him with the tools to continue to create change. It’s my hope that when he becomes a man, he’ll then be able to do the same for his family.’

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers said the video broke his heart after viewing it