The police officer who shot dead a barefoot, suicidal LGBT activist at Georgia Tech on Saturday has been identified as campus police officer with just one year on the force.
Tyler Beck shot Scout Schultz on the university’s Atlanta campus on Saturday and the man died later in hospital.
The non-binary student’s death sparked protests on campus and police officers’ cars were set on fire.
Schultz, who preferred to be referred to as ‘them’ and did not prescribe to any gender, had left three suicide notes at home and called 911 to report a man fitting their description with ‘long blond hair’ and wearing a ‘white t-shirt’ walking around campus with a knife or gun on his hip.
In a soft voice, the 21-year-old is heard calling 911 before the shooting to report a ‘white male’.
s
Campus police officer Tyler Beck (left) shot Scout Schultz, 21, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Saturday
‘It looks like there’s somebody skulking around it looks like he’s got a knife in his hand.
‘He looks like he might be drunk or something.
‘He’s just like right across on the sidewalk, walking kind of slow,’ they said.
Beck was the officer who was sent to investigate the call along with others.
He was filmed firing a single shot, wounding Schultz in the chest after trying to talk the student out of carrying the knife for more than a minute.
Schultz had been screaming ‘shoot me!’ as the officers pleaded: ‘Nobody wants to hurt you.’
The fatal shot was fired as Schultz walked towards one of the officers.
The youngster rolled around on the floor afterwards screaming in agony.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that Beck had not yet undergone Crisis Intervention Training which teaches officers how to cope with mentally ill suspects.
Beck was one of four officers who responded to Schultz’s call on Saturday night. A video captured the student pleading ‘shoot me!’ before he fired the fatal shot
Scout Schultz described a ‘white male’ walking around campus in a white t-shirt and jeans. The student was an LGBT leader on campus and was non-binary
The shooting sparked protests across the Atlanta campus on Sunday (Above). One officer was injured and cars were set on fire
The shooting sparked protests across the campus, with many students claiming it was unnecessary because of the ‘tiny’ knife Schultz was carrying at the time.
The demonstrations ended in violence. One officer ended up in the hospital and three protesters were arrested.
Many said that police did not need to exercise such force because Schultz was not armed with a gun.
The young student’s parents have also questioned his death. They hired a lawyer who said de-escalating tactics should have been used.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation released Beck’s information on Tuesday as its probe in to the shooting continues.
It is not clear whether Beck has been removed from duty.
Schultz’s parents William and Lynne say police used excessive force and that deescalating tactics should have been used instead
Students embrace outside Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Sunday after the shooting
According to a press release from the bureau, the Georgia Tech campus police received a 911 call of a ‘person with a knife and a gun’ at 11.17pm Saturday night.
The release says Schultz was ‘not cooperative and would not comply with the officers commands.
‘Schultz continued to advance on the officers with a knife… Subsequently, one officer fired striking Schultz.’
Schultz’s parents have hired trial attorney L Chris Stewart to represent them ahead of the investigation into their child’s death.
Their mother Lynn told the New York Daily News Schultz was a ‘nonconformist and very, very bright.’
She said Schultz had a ‘lot of empathy for other people.’
The Pride Alliance released a statement that described Schultz as ‘the driving force’ behind the group thanks to their ‘hard work and dedication’.
‘We love you Scout and we will continue to push for change,’ the statement concluded.