“He took off with my truck. I call the police, and they kill him,” James said. “It was over a damn pack of cigarettes. I wouldn’t buy him none. And I lose my son for that.”
After the truck was reported stolen, Ames Police Officer Adam McPherson pursued Tyler into ISU’s campus. At some point during the chase, Tyler reportedly rammed McPherson’s car. The teen eventually stopped the truck, but continued to rev the engine and refused orders to turn it off.
Tyler was struck by two of the six shots McPherson fired into the truck, and later pronounced dead. He was not carrying a weapon.
Gary Shepley, Tyler’s step-grandfather, is demanding answers.
“They’re professionals,” Shepley said. “They’re trained to handle these situations. And if they panic before they even know what’s going on, then ask yourself: What if it was your child? So he didn’t shut the damn truck off, so let’s fire six rounds at him? We’re confused, and we don’t understand.”
No one else was injured during the incident.
