The family of a teenage graffiti artist who died after being stunned with a Taser fired by US police officers demanded a full investigation into the incident on Friday.
Israel Hernandez, 18, died shortly after being zapped with a Taser when he fled from Miami police who had caught him spray-painting graffiti on a boarded up store front on Tuesday.
The teenager’s death has sent shockwaves through Miami Beach’s arts community. Hernandez, who was originally from Colombia, was a well-known graffiti artist whose work had been exhibited locally.
“We want a thorough investigation to find out what happened,” the teenager’s father, also called Israel Hernandez, told AFP on Friday.
The Hernandez family is to lead a vigil on Saturday at the spot where the teenager was caught.
According to a police statement, officers shot Hernandez with the Taser after he refused to stop.
After being arrested and taken into custody, Hernandez showed “signs of medical duress” and was rushed to Miami’s Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The officer who used the Taser, Jorge Mercado, was placed on administrative leave on Thursday.
Family of US teen in Taser death demands probe
