News Media: Utah Officer Points Gun At Young Black Boy During Search For Shooting Suspects, Mum Wants Answers
One Utah mother wants answers after a police officer pointed a gun at her black 10-year-old son, DJ Hrubes, on Thursday during a search for armed men suspected in a shooting. It’s understood the boy was playing in the front lawn of the West Bountiful home where his family was staying when an officer pulled a gun out on him.
“I was just playing, running,” he said.
The something terrifying happened.
“I was right here,” Hrubes said as he stood on the front lawn. “And he pulled a gun out and I had to do this and I laid down, like this,” he continued as he put his hands above his head and then slowly dropped down onto his stomach.
Shockingly, an officer with Woods Cross police drew his weapon on the 10-year-old.
“I was so confused with what was going on,” he told KSTU.
“I run outside and there’s a police officer with his weapon pointed to my son’s head,” said DJ’s mom, Jerri Hrubes.
“I really thought they were going to shoot my little boy,” she said.
According to the police, it was a case of ‘mistaken identity’ during what was a volatile search for two potentially armed men. During the search for the suspects, Woods Cross police were called to assist other departments. It’s gathered that the suspects were involved in a Centerville shooting Thursday afternoon.
“We had minimal information at the time, we had one possibly Hispanic out on foot and we knew there was at least one other suspect involved,” said Lt. Adam Osoro. “This kid was just in the area at the wrong time.”
“We had minimal information at the time, we had one possibly Hispanic out on foot and we knew there was at least one other suspect involved,” said Lt. Adam Osoro. “This kid was just in the area at the wrong time.”
Despite this, the boy’s family believe his skin color was the reason the officer pulled the gun out on him. Jerri said:
“I think it was an overzealous cop who just saw somebody who wasn’t white and just jumped to conclusions. Why don’t they admit there was some fault there.”
The authorities say the police officer who drew his weapon and pointed it at the boy returned to the family’s home after the suspect search was suspended and DJ gave the officer a hug. The police also say they have reached out to the family but have failed to reach through.
“In this case, it’s just an officer that’s trying to keep himself safe and the public safe,” Osoro said. “I don’t exactly know what else we can do at this point.”
According to Jerri, she hasn’t been contacted by police and that they haven’t done enough to make things right.
“They need to be held responsible, I mean he’s a child, you can definitely tell he’s a child,” she said.
Meanwhile, the police say they will not be looking any further into how their officer handled the situation.
Click Amebo Book for more headlines today breaking news. Also check out our news media for current news headlines.
