Family questions police after video shows moments before man fatally shot by Hollywood officers

Five months after police in Broward County said they were forced to fire on a man who was armed during a confrontation, the man’s family says new video tells a different story.

Donald Taylor, 32, was fatally shot by Hollywood Police in Miramar on Aug. 3, near Southwest 19th Street and 61st Avenue.

Detectives said they were trying to make contact with Taylor, who they accused of being involved in a string of violent crimes in Miramar and Hollywood, including a shooting and armed robbery.

When they spotted Taylor, he was armed and refused to listen to officers’ commands, before the officers opened fire, officials said.

Taylor’s family now has an attorney, and said the new video of the encounter doesn’t match what police told the public.

In the video shared by the family’s attorney, Taylor is seen walking away from officers with his hands raised and away from his body.

The video ends just before Taylor falls to the ground.

Police said a gun was recovered at the scene, but have not released body camera video or identified the officer who fired that fatal shot.

“I can’t think of one thing that they could say or describe that he did off camera that would justify the 20 seconds that he’s on camera with his hands up, walking away and then shot in the back,” said Erian White, the family’s attorney. “We’ve seen many times, on camera, people accused of worst, terrible, terroristic crimes, and somehow, they are able to be taken into custody, and they are tried.”

Under Florida law, officers are allowed to use deadly force under very specific circumstances: When they reasonably believe someone poses an immediate threat of death or serious harm, or to stop a dangerous felon from escaping, when necessary.

White believes the video raises serious questions about whether that legal standard was met, and now the family has demands.

“They would like to know the name of the officer that fired the fatal shot, the names of the officers on scene and an arrest is what should be happening at this point,” White said.

NBC6 has reached out to Hollywood Police about the newly released video, but was deferred to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which has taken over the investigation.

The shooting remains under investigation.