The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office decided not to prosecute City of Miami police officer, Kassandra Mercado, for shooting Donald Armstrong while he was experiencing a mental health crisis. The decision comes after community calls for the city to not only charge Mercado, but to invest in non-lethal options for community intervention.
In the eight-page memo provided by the State Attorney’s Office, they mention that Mercado fired her weapon only after Armstrong began to advance towards her. However, as stated by Miami New Times the “body-camera footage shows that Mercado began shooting Armstrong as he fell to the ground as a result of being tased.” This excessive use of force is commonplace from institutions who routinely practice shooting on Black and Brown targets exclusively. The lack of accountability for one officer is in an effort to ensure there is not an indictment of the entire policing system in America.
As we mentioned back in 2024, a 2015 report by the Treatment Advocacy Center, found individuals with untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed during interactions with law enforcement. This is a systemic issue. Thankfully, Armstrong is still here to tell his story but that is not always the case. Organizations like the Healing and Justice Center, Circle of Brotherhood, Dade County Street Response, Dream Defenders, and Touching Miami with Love are all working to create alternative systems that keep our communities safe, thriving, and most importantly—alive.
If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, consider calling the Freedom House Mobile Crisis Unit at 866-275-9552.
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