‘Like a cowboy from a John Wayne movie’: Suicidal South Carolina man shot nine times by police

A suicidal South Carolina man who survived being shot nine times by police is suing officers for ‘excessive use of deadly force’.

Trevor Mullinaux, 29, who has been previously arrested for burglary and other crimes domestic violenceclaims he was talking to his mother in his pickup truck when the police descended on them ‘like cowboys from a John Wayne movie.’

The York County Sheriff’s Office disputes the claims, saying ‘Mr. Mullinaux decided to put these men in danger by drawing the shotgun.’

Mullinaux, who lives in Rock Hill, South Carolina, alleges in the lawsuit that the officers drew their guns and “immediately resorted to the use of deadly force, without attempting to de-escalate the situation.”

Police bodycam footage of the incident, which occurred in May 2021, shows Mullinaux inside a pickup truck on his family’s land, with his mother, Tammy Benson, outside the vehicle near the driver’s window.

The legislators are seen stepping out of police vehicles and shouting: ‘Let me see your hands’.

Moments later they began shooting at the vehicle, shattering the windscreen as the 48-year-old ducked and ran to hide in nearby bushes.

After 50 bullets have been fired, Beason’s distressed scream can be heard from the pick-up.

Mullyneux admitted that he had a firearm in the truck, but denied aiming it at himself or the police.

Instead he raised his hands and was following orders from deputies, his attorneys insist.

“There was one round that hit him smack dab in the middle of the back of his head,” Mullinaux’s attorney, Justin Bamberg, said at a press conference on Tuesday with Beeson in attendance.

‘Never seen anyone shot in the back of the head that poses a threat to law enforcement or anyone else.’

Mullyneux told reporters that he was experiencing a mental health crisis and had involved police after he banged on his girlfriend’s door several days before the shooting.

The complaint states that a call was made to the sheriff’s department requesting a ‘wellness check’ on Moulinex.

A team of deputies went to the family’s property and were directed by Mullinaux’s grandfather to the scene where his grandson was parked and talking to his mother, the lawsuit states.

Court papers say, ‘Prior to arriving at the location on the property where Plaintiff Mullinaux was still sitting inside his pickup truck, sheriff’s deputies drew their firearms and were prepared to shoot Plaintiff Mullinaux and use deadly force. ‘ ,

‘Trevor was in a really dark place,’ his lawyer told reporters, ‘and was thinking about suicide.’

‘May is Mental Health Awareness Month,’ said Moulineux. ‘I hate that I have to be the face of it this month. But if it helps even one person in this world that doesn’t have to do with me and my family, then I’m okay with it.’

York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said in a statement: ‘Mr Mullinaux decided to put these people in danger by pulling a shotgun.

‘These deputies responded appropriately to the threat as they were trained to do so.’

‘Had Mr Mullinaux made different choices that day, the deputies would not have needed to use force.’