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Community Demands Answers In Deadly Officer Involved Shooting

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MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) -- Dozens of citizens demanded answers from the city of Miami Gardens about a deadly-officer involved shooting which ended with the death of a 25-year old mentally ill man.

A mother demanded answers during a Miami Gardens city hall meeting in regards to her son's shooting death at the hands of a police officer and she had backup.

Friends, family and members of the group Dream Defenders attended the meeting asking for justice for Lavall Hall.

Lavall Hall
Lavall Hall (Source: Lavall Hall Family)

The 25-year-old who suffered from schizophrenia was shot and killed by a Miami Gardens police officer less than two weeks ago.

"We're asking that the tapes of the shooting be released so that they can be evaluated. We're asking for an outside agency to investigate what happened that night. We're asking for more accountability for the Miami Gardens police when handling those with mental illnesses when they go out on calls," said Jasmine Rogers who attended the meeting.

It was in the early morning hours of February 15th that Miami Gardens Police said they responded to a 911 call regarding a violent mentally-disturbed man.

Catherine Daniels said she called police in hopes they'd take her son to the hospital but instead ended up shooting him after the officers say Hall attacked them repeatedly with a broom stick.

"I just want a closure in my heart on what they did to my child. When I call them for one thing and another thing, my child end up dead," said Daniels.

A number of people signed up to speak before the mayor and city council members and, at times, things got heated.

"We are not going to yell out in this chamber again," said Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert.

"That's the only way we're going to get our point across while you all are up there laughing," said a man who attended the meeting.

Mayor Gilbert addressed the request for video of the incident to be released.

"There's a process by which the mother through her lawyer can actually request the tape. We cannot release the tape but she can go through the process and request it," said Mayor Gilbert.

Click here to watch Oralia Ortega's report. 

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