The father of a 21-year-old man shot by a North Miami Beach officer on Saturday says he’s still searching for answers after police claimed his son charged at them with a knife.
“When you hear the news, they tell you they’ve shot your child. I asked who shot him, they said the police,” Roosevelt Joseph’s father told CBS News Miami in Creole, choosing not to reveal his name or show his face on camera. “No matter who you are, when you hear shooting, you have to ask: is it my child, and is he alive?”
Police Say Incident Began With Fake Stabbing Report
Officers rushed to Northeast 164th Street and 16th Avenue Saturday morning after a 911 caller claimed someone had been stabbed. According to police, Joseph held a knife, ignored repeated commands to drop it, and charged at them before an officer opened fire.
But Joseph’s father insists his son was simply visiting his aunt’s nearby shop.
“He went to his aunt’s and was walking in the area. We were at a funeral in Orlando,” he explained, adding that Joseph may not have realized his relatives weren’t home.
Investigators later determined the stabbing report was false and now believe Joseph may have made the call himself to lure officers.
Father Challenges Police Version
Joseph’s father said he demanded answers from officers at the scene.
“I asked why did you shoot him. They said he was aggressive towards them with a knife,” he recalled. Still, he remains unconvinced. “There are other ways they could have neutralized him. They are professionals. They have enough information. No matter what weapons someone may have, there has to be another way to stop them.”
He also argued that if his son struggled with a mental health issue, police should have handled the situation differently.
“Even if they have a mental disorder, I think the police could’ve done something else,” he said.
Confusion at Aventura Hospital
Joseph’s father described the struggle he faced trying to visit his son after the shooting. Security initially denied him entry, despite paperwork police had given him.
“I told them, the person they shot is my son. I am his dad. I came to see him,” he said. “Still at this minute I have to become neutral, because I need more information, more details.”
Doctors performed surgery on Joseph at Aventura Hospital, and he was last reported in stable condition. No officers were injured in the incident.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is leading the investigation. The officer who fired the shots has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol.
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