Michael Taylor, 17, died after being shot by officers.
The incident took place during a gathering of about 200 people in the parking lot of Salem’s Gyros and Subs restaurant in Lakeland, FL. Policed received a call from an employee at Salem’s requesting officers to clear the parking lot.
Officers attempted to clear the parking lot of people loitering when Officer Raj Patel noticed a black Chevrolet Camaro that fit the description of a vehicle stolen from Winter Haven.
The vehicle, reported stolen was parked sideways facing southwest. As multiple officers approached the vehicle, the driver, later identified as Taylor, attempted to flee by rapidly accelerating the car, placing officers and others in immediate danger.
The vehicle accelerated south toward Officer Markais Neal, putting him in fear for his life, and he fired at the vehicle, the release said. Two other officers also fired at the vehicle as it accelerated through the parking lot, striking several vehicles and a utility pole.
