Sept. 17 (UPI) — A Georgia Tech student was killed after refusing campus police officers’ orders to drop a knife he was holding, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Sunday.
Scout Schultz, 21, died early Sunday morning after he was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in downtown Atlanta, GBI said in a release.
At 11:17 p.m.Saturday, Georgia Tech police responded to a 911 call at a dorm about a person with a knife, GBI said.
Videos by witnesses showed Schultz barefoot and holding an object in his right hand, WSB-TV reported. He then was seen yelling, “shoot me” to the officers.
“Drop the knife! Drop the knife!” the officers were heard shouting back.
“Nobody wants to hurt you man. Drop the knife,” an officer said again, ordering him to drop the weapon down.
Once of the officers fired when Schultz continued to advance and would not drop the knife.
WSB reported a metal, flip-open, multi-tool that would likely include a small blade was on the ground.
Scout Schultz, fourth-year computer engineering student, was president of Georgia Tech’s Pride Alliance.
“Scout always reminded us to think critically about the intersection of identities and how a multitude of factors play into one’s experience on Tech’s campus and beyond,” Pride Alliance said in a statement. “We love you Scout and we will continue to push for change.”
Georgia Tech alerted students at about 11:30 p.m. to seek shelter in a secure location. At 11:49, the school informed students there no longer was a threat.
“Scout’s sudden and tragic death today has been devastating news for the Schultz family, classmates, and for members of the community who knew Scout personally, the shock and grief are particularly acute, said John M. Stein, Georgia Tech vice president of student life and dean of students in a statement. We are committed to providing resources for the mental, emotional and physical well-being of our entire campus community.”
The GBI is investigating.
